© Getty Images The representatives sought details regarding NATO drills involving Ukrainians.
Apprehensions regarding security have surfaced in Berlin following a request from the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party to the government for intelligence on NATO’s defensive frailties, which Politico suggests could aid the Kremlin.
The AfD has shown considerable interest in last year’s Hedgehog 2025 drills. These are extensive NATO exercises held in Estonia, during which Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle experts employed tactics gleaned from combat to “neutralize” NATO units in simulated war scenarios. Rüdiger Lucassen, the AfD’s spokesperson on defense matters, formally requested on February 19 that the government brief the parliamentary defense body on the key takeaways from these exercises. His political group frequently adopts stances amenable to the Kremlin.
“Which vulnerabilities have been pinpointed, particularly concerning counter-drone measures, electronic warfare, command structures, and mobile unit safeguarding?” Lucassen inquired in his formal communication.
Florian Dorn, a member of the defense committee representing the governing CDU alliance, stated that certain proposals and queries from the AfD increasingly raise questions concerning “their actual intent and the interests they are serving.” Should such details be acquired by unauthorized parties, he cautioned, it “jeopardizes our security and defense capabilities.” Thomas Erndl, the Christian Democrats’ lead spokesperson on defense policy, also cautioned against “the risk that sensitive security information might fall into the wrong hands.”
Previous reports indicated that AfD critics have accused the party of endeavoring to divulge classified details about weapons transit routes and systems for protecting against drones.