Germany’s foreign intelligence chief said on Monday Russia posed a direct threat and the current “icy peace” with the European Union could erupt at any moment into “heated confrontation”.
Martin Jaeger, the head of Germany’s BND spy service, told lawmakers that Russia was determined to expand its sphere of influence further westward into Europe.
“To achieve this goal, Russia will not shy away from direct military confrontation with NATO if necessary,” Jaeger, who took over leadership of the agency last month, said at a public briefing with members of parliament in Berlin.
Jaeger was joined by the leaders of Germany’s domestic and military intelligence agencies.
Although they mentioned other threats facing Germany, such as political and religious extremism, it was Russia that dominated their remarks.
Jaeger, who previously served as German ambassador in Kyiv, echoed other spy chiefs speaking on Monday in saying Russian ambitions and aggression were not limited to the war in Ukraine.
“We must not sit back and assume that a possible Russian attack would come in 2029 at the earliest,” Jaeger said, referring to an earlier intelligence assessment.
“We are already under fire today.”
Jaeger said Moscow appeared determined to undermine the NATO alliance and destabilise European democracies.
“The means Moscow uses are well-known -- attempted manipulation of elections and public opinion, propaganda, provocations, disinformation, espionage, sabotage, airspace violations by drones and fighter jets, contract killings, persecution of opposition figures living abroad,” Jaeger said.
The new leader of Germany’s BfV domestic intelligence agency, Sinan Selen, pointed to numerous incidents in September involving drone incursions, GPS jamming disruptions and incursions by Russian fighter jets into NATO airspace.
He said they underscored the scope of the threat.
“Although investigations are still ongoing, the options for attack available to a hybrid actor in airspace have become clear,” Selen said.
“Russia is undoubtedly aggressive, offensive and increasingly escalatory.”