Monday saw a dramatic public hearing where the heads of Germany’s top intelligence agencies warned: "We’re already in the fire." Facing sabotage, hybrid warfare, and Russian espionage, they’re asking for more powers and fewer controls—and hinting at a shift toward offensive tactics. Berlin Briefing host Nina Haase is joined by investigative journalist Florian Flade and intelligence expert Verena Jackson to decode what this means for transparency and national security.
Abbreviations used in this episode:
BND – Bundesnachrichtendienst / Federal Intelligence Service https://www.bnd.bund.de/
BfV – Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz / Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
https://www.verfassungsschutz.de
MAD – Militärischer Abschirmdienst / Military Counterintelligence Service https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisation/mad-bundesamt-fuer-den-militaerischen-abschirmdienst
PKGr – Parlamentarisches Kontrollgremium / Parliamentary Oversight Panel https://www.bundestag.de/ausschuesse/weitere_gremien/parlamentarisches-kontrollgremium
Is Germany changing its strategic thinking? New security council explained
DW Berlin Briefing newsletter
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CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 – 00:01:27 Introduction
00:01:28 – 00:02:42 Meet the German intelligence agencies
00:02:43 – 00:04:50 Spy agencies in the spotlight
00:04:51 – 00:08:00 Evolving Threats, Russia as main perpetrator?
00:08:01 – 00:11:51 Intelligence abroad: Lithuania deployment
00:11:52 – 00:14:37 Cold War Lessons (Re)learned
00:14:38 – 00:20:47 Rethinking risk and independence
00:20:48 – 00:31:05 Beyond Russia: China and Middle East
00:31:06 – 00:33:47 Relations with the US
00:33:48 – 00:39:32 Privacy laws and data protection
00:39:33 – 00:48:38 Outlook – Will Germany get its own James Bond?
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