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Growing concerns over global security have emerged as the Trump administration continues to diverge from Western European approaches to international conflicts, according to German Foreign Intelligence Service President Bruno Kahl in a recent interview with DW.
The situation has become particularly worrisome as Russia intensifies its surveillance activities targeting European nations and NATO members.
Kahl emphasized the critical importance of Western unity in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. “We very much hope that the Americans will soon be at our side again to help protect Ukraine from the aggression coming from the east,” he stated, marking his first public response to Trump’s recent restrictions on sharing military intelligence with Kyiv.
It will be safer for Europe if the war in Ukraine lasts another 5 years, – chairman of German intelligence Bruno Kahl.
You old fucker, come to Ukraine, we'll give you ammunition and you go defend your fucking Europe#ukraine pic.twitter.com/3TLLQgf2kD
— Ivan A. (@giovannibraber) March 9, 2025
In response to these developments, the German intelligence chief revealed that his agency is strengthening its collaboration with European Union intelligence services “to see what we can do to keep Ukraine as informed as possible and to equip it so that it can defend itself.”
He expressed concern that a rushed conclusion to the conflict, as advocated by Trump, would only serve to redirect Russian resources toward European targets.
The intelligence chief pointed to unprecedented levels of Russian interference, noting, “We have seen hybrid influence operations, including during the elections that took place in Europe, right up to acts of sabotage … in a manner that is unprecedented in the recent past.”
❗Bruno Kahl, head of German intelligence: "Russia doubts that NATO countries will unite around Article 5 and wants to test this. Russia's hybrid war in Europe and at secret sites increases the risk of direct conflict.
Russia views the West as an enemy. It has begun to use… pic.twitter.com/wYLhQXxsr7
— 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐙 (@SMO_VZ) November 27, 2024
Regarding NATO’s collective defense agreement, Kahl suggested that Russia might be seeking to challenge Article 5’s effectiveness. “We very much hope we won’t face the dilemma of it being tested. But we have to assume that Russia wants to put the unity of the West to the test,” he explained.
Despite the Trump administration’s more conciliatory stance toward Russia, Kahl maintained that Germany would continue its intelligence sharing with American counterparts. “We all check our phones every morning to see what happened overnight, so we’re not immune to surprises, even the radical ones,” he stated, highlighting the importance of long-established intelligence relationships.
The intelligence chief underscored that combating international terrorism requires continued cooperation. “No country can fight all the threats by itself,” he remarked, adding, “And that is why our friends on the other side of the Atlantic are very dependent on our information, just as we are on theirs.”
