German intelligence chief warns of risk of armed conflict with Russia
In short
The head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency BND, Jäger, warned on Oct. 5 that Russian intelligence activities in Germany have become increasingly aggressive and that Germany is at risk of being drawn into an armed conflict with Russia, Sankei Shimbun reported. He told a Bundestag committee that an attempted drone attack near Leipzig airport in August — which the German government has attributed to Russia — was just one example, and said “Russia is testing us.” Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun carried the same headline but no further details in the available text.
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The head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, Jäger, told a Bundestag committee on Oct. 5 that Russian intelligence activities in Germany have become increasingly aggressive and that Germany is at risk of being drawn into an armed conflict with Russia, Sankei Shimbun reported. The warning was carried in headlines by Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun as well. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Jäger pointed to an attempted drone attack with explosives near Leipzig airport in eastern Germany in August as one example. The German government has concluded that Russia was involved, according to Sankei. Jäger said the incident was only one case and added, “Russia is testing us. They are carefully watching how we deal with this situation.” [ 2 ]
Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun published the same headline about the warning, but their available texts did not include the details of Jäger’s remarks or the Leipzig incident. No Russian response was reported in the documents. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The warning from Germany’s foreign intelligence chief adds to concerns about Russian intelligence activity in Europe and the risk of escalation. It follows a German government conclusion that Russia was behind an attempted drone attack near Leipzig airport, though the documents do not report any Russian response or new measures by Germany.
Key facts
- German BND chief Jäger warned that Germany is at risk of being drawn into an armed conflict with Russia. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The warning was made at a Bundestag committee on Oct. 5. [ 2 ]
- Jäger said Russian intelligence activities in Germany are increasingly aggressive. [ 2 ]
- An attempted drone attack with explosives near Leipzig airport in August was one example, and the German government concluded Russia was involved. [ 2 ]
- Jäger said “Russia is testing us” and that Russia is carefully watching how Germany deals with the situation. [ 2 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun carried the same headline but no further details in the available text. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The exact city or venue of the Bundestag committee meeting where Jäger spoke. Sankei says he spoke at a Bundestag committee but does not name the city; other documents do not add this.
- Details of the August attempted drone attack near Leipzig airport. Only Sankei reports it, and the documents do not give the date, casualties, or evidence behind Germany’s conclusion that Russia was involved.
- Russia’s response to the warning. No document includes a reaction from Russian authorities.
- Whether other German officials share the assessment. Only the BND chief’s warning is reported in the documents.