Popular German party suspected of leaking secret data to Russia, Politico reports
Photo: German flag (Getty Images)
Germany’s far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has asked the federal government to provide detailed information on potential vulnerabilities in NATO’s defence system, according to defence spokesperson Rüdiger Lucassen, according to Politico.
Read also: Germany announces air defense missile shortage for Ukraine
Request on NATO gaps
In a letter dated February 19 seen by Politico, Lucassen asked the Bundestag’s defence committee to be informed about the results of NATO’s Hedgehog 2025 exercises held in Estonia.
He specifically requested details on capability gaps identified during the drills, particularly in counter-drone defence, electronic warfare, command capabilities and protection of mobile forces.
The exercise involved Ukrainian drone specialists who applied battlefield tactics to simulate the neutralization of Alliance units.
Reaction from officials and experts
Christian Democratic Union defence committee member Florian Dorn warned that any leak of such information could pose a security risk, saying that if the data fell into the wrong hands, it could undermine defence readiness.
The AfD's previous actions have already raised concerns among officials about potential exposure of information of interest to Russia.
Party response
The AfD rejected suggestions of hidden motives, arguing that information requests are a standard parliamentary oversight tool.
Separately, reports indicate Germany’s ambassador to Ukraine, Heiko Thoms, could leave his post, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany and France are holding talks on European nuclear deterrence.
