The German armed forces, the Bundeswehr, are fortifying their defenses against espionage and sabotage. According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) has been granted new powers, allowing it to protect not only completed military facilities but also soldiers and their families. This development follows the current case of an alleged spy arrested in Brandenburg, who reportedly spied for Russian arms manufacturers.
The spokesperson noted that this incident clearly demonstrated how “diverse” the threat scenarios posed by foreign intelligence services are. She stated that state-directed intelligence services utilize “all the means available to them to obtain information, exert influence, prepare acts of sabotage, and pursue the interests of their home countries.”
While the defense industry and arms companies are considered critical infrastructure, they are not under the direct protection of the Bundeswehr. Nevertheless, the defence forces maintain that they “naturally cooperate closely with national partners” when dealing with intelligence activities.
