Berlin: Germany will enact new measures to counter espionage and sabotage as it continues to experience hybrid attacks from Russia, the government announced following a National Security Council meeting. The decision comes in response to increasing security threats, including a recent drone attack at Leipzig Airport, allegedly orchestrated by Russian intelligence.

According to Anadolu Agency, German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius stated that the National Security Council conducted a thorough review of Germany's vulnerability to hybrid threats. The meeting, chaired by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, highlighted the ongoing risk posed by Russian hybrid attacks. Kornelius emphasized that the council is actively discussing how the federal government plans to address future hybrid threats and revisited existing measures under the action plan designed to defend against such threats.

The council decided on new initiatives to combat espionage and sabotage, as well as measures to protect critical infrastructure. Kornelius mentioned that the meeting followed weeks of intensive coordination among the relevant ministries represented on the National Security Council.

In addition to hybrid threat mitigation, the council addressed Germany's reliance on foreign suppliers for critical raw materials and strategic dependencies. Kornelius outlined that the council agreed on a swift revision of investment-screening legislation and measures to diversify and stabilize the supply of essential raw materials. The government has also established a Raw Materials Fund as the primary financing tool under its Raw Materials Policy Action Plan.

The National Security Council further examined military and civilian defense strategies and the security implications associated with artificial intelligence.