Germany Faces 'Shadow War' from Hybrid Threats, Calls for Intelligence Reform

Germany is currently facing what Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has described as a "shadow war," involving hybrid threats aimed at politically and socially destabilizing the country without traditional military conflict. Speaking at events held by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) in Berlin, Dobrindt and Verfassungsschutz President Sinan Selen highlighted the expansion and intensification of covert attacks, primarily attributed to Russia.

Dobrindt emphasized that Germany is encountering a broader and more complex threat landscape than during the Cold War, with blurred conflict boundaries. These hybrid attacks include disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, sabotage, and espionage, often involving cooperation between state actors and organized crime. He outlined that Germany, as a leading economic power and key player in European security, is a prime target whose social, political, and economic stability is under threat.

Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, Selen warned that attacks are imminent, underscoring the need to strengthen defense and intelligence capabilities. Both officials called for comprehensive reforms to modernize and empower German intelligence agencies. Proposed measures include expanding data collection, storage, and analysis abilities, facilitating proactive disruption of hostile operations by the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), and granting the Verfassungsschutz conditional authority to conduct covert operations.

Dobrindt also stressed the need for a broader transformation effort involving state institutions, society, and the economy to respond effectively to these hybrid threats. He additionally addressed the requirement to tackle all forms of extremism, including left-wing extremism, more rigorously.

Responding to recent espionage allegations against former BND President August Hanning, Selen expressed confidence that Germany’s international intelligence partnerships remain stable despite any frustrations posed by the incident.

This growing awareness and acknowledgment of a shadow war reflect Germany's urgent need to adapt its security posture against increasingly sophisticated hybrid threats targeting its democratic foundations and societal cohesion.