Germany’s top intelligence official, Bruno Kahl, has issued a stark warning regarding Russia’s potential threat to NATO, stating that the country could be capable of launching attacks on alliance territories within the next six years.
The head of Germany’s Foreign Intelligence Service (BND) conveyed these concerns during a session with the Bundestag’s parliamentary control committee, where he described the growing dangers posed by Russia as increasingly direct.
Kahl emphasized that Germany has emerged as a significant adversary in the eyes of the Kremlin, largely due to its support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
As the second-largest backer of Ukraine after the United States, Germany’s military and financial assistance to Kyiv has drawn the ire of Russian leadership.
“We are in direct conflict with Russia,” Kahl stated, underscoring the seriousness of the situation and the risks involved. The intelligence chief also highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine’s borders.
According to Kahl, Putin is driven by the goal of establishing a “new world order,” which seeks to challenge the current international system dominated by Western powers.
He expressed concerns that the Kremlin’s pursuit of these broader geopolitical objectives could manifest in threats to NATO, which encompasses 31 member countries across North America and Europe, including Germany.
Kahl further noted that Russian intelligence services are operating with increasing aggressiveness and are employing all available resources without restraint.
He described the situation as highly volatile, cautioning that “further escalation of the situation is anything but unlikely.”
The intelligence chief stressed the importance of equipping German security services with the necessary resources and authority to counter the evolving threats.
He urged politicians to recognize the gravity of the situation and take measures to enhance the country’s intelligence capabilities.
The warning comes amid broader concerns in Germany about Russia’s intelligence activities within the country.
Nancy Faeser, Germany’s Internal Affairs Minister, has voiced apprehension about the rising risk posed by Russian espionage and other intelligence operations.
She pointed to a noticeable uptick in efforts to undermine Germany’s security, prompting the Ministry of the Interior to draft new legislation aimed at strengthening background checks for employees in sensitive sectors.
The proposed measures would target individuals working in critical infrastructure, such as information technology and communications, to prevent infiltration by foreign agents.
In recent months, European intelligence agencies have observed a significant increase in Russian sabotage operations across the continent.
These activities have included attempts to disrupt infrastructure, cyber-attacks, and other clandestine actions aimed at weakening Western unity and resolve.
The latest warning from Kahl aligns with the growing recognition within NATO that the security landscape in Europe is undergoing significant changes due to Russia’s increasingly confrontational stance.
With the war in Ukraine showing no signs of abating and tensions with Moscow escalating, Germany’s intelligence services are bracing for a period of heightened uncertainty and potential conflict.
