Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) stated to Welt am Sonntag that Germany is increasingly facing hybrid threats from various sources. To combat this, he announced the creation of the “Joint Center for the Defeat of Hybrid Threats” (GAZ Hybrid), which will consolidate the efforts of both federal and state authorities.
Dobrindt commented that hybrid threats are now an integral part of everyday dangers, adding that the center is intended to safeguard the stability of Germany’s infrastructure, protect the economic landscape, and defend democracy. By facilitating shared situation assessments, enhancing information exchange, and coordinating responses, Germany’s overall resilience will be boosted.
The new center is scheduled to begin operations in Berlin on Tuesday. This entity, which is based within the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, aims to closely connect security agencies at both the federal and state levels. Their joint mission is to tackle espionage, sabotage, disinformation, proliferation, transnational repression, and state terrorism. The ultimate goal is to detect threats early, analyze them thoroughly, and enable coordinated countermeasures.
According to reports from Welt am Sonntag, GAZ Hybrid will involve numerous key federal agencies, including the Federal Criminal Police Office, the Federal Police, federal and state constitutional protection authorities, the Federal Office for Information Security, the Federal Intelligence Service, the Federal Criminal Police Office’s Counterintelligence Service, state police headquarters, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the General Customs Directorate. The collaboration will be organized within five working groups: “Situation Assessment,” “Operational Information Exchange,” “Disinformation and Influence Operations,” “Economy,” and “Analysis and Reporting.” These agencies will use the center to exchange findings, collectively evaluate threats, and prepare integrated responses to hybrid attacks.
