Overview

• At a rare public hearing, new BND president Martin Jäger said Germany is "already in the fire" and cautioned against assuming any Russian attack would only be possible from 2029.
• Jäger and the heads of the BfV and MAD described a "new quality" of confrontation that includes sabotage, disinformation, espionage, drone and airspace violations, and contract killings.
• Jäger requested broader authorities so the BND can operate under wartime conditions, take active countermeasures, and exchange more with partners, paired with streamlined oversight to free resources for operations.
• The chiefs flagged AI-enabled threats, deepfakes and the online recruitment of "disposable agents" for low-cost sabotage, and called for a real-time national situational picture.
• CDU leaders backed stronger powers and clearer "Spannungsfall" rules and warned a planned Russia trip by an AfD lawmaker could risk leaks, while the government readies legal reforms and additional funding.