German government does not deny allegations of Volkswagen-Israel collaboration

• Defense Ministry says any such procurement discussions, if they exist, would remain confidential until parliamentary approval

BERLIN

The German government did not deny allegations of collaboration between Volkswagen and Israel when asked by Anadolu about reports concerning the possible use of the company’s Osnabruck plant for defense industry production.

A German government spokesperson said Thursday Berlin had “taken note of the media reports” and stressed that the automotive sector is going through a transformation process amid “tough international competition.”

“As the Federal Government, we naturally welcome initiatives that help secure jobs in Germany,” the spokesperson said, adding that the government is continuing to closely monitor developments in the automotive sector.

The spokesperson said the government held a major summit last year with affected companies and federal states hosting large automotive groups, and agreed on measures to support the sector. However, the spokesperson declined to comment further on the specific reports.

Asked separately about possible defense procurement initiatives, the German Defense Ministry also stopped short of either confirming or denying such discussions.

A ministry spokesperson said information on the Iron Dome system is available on official websites, but said any potential procurement talks, if they exist, would be handled internally and disclosed only after parliamentary approval.

“Please do not interpret this as a statement either denying or confirming the existence of such considerations; this is simply a confidential matter,” the spokesperson said.

Media reports have recently raised questions about possible cooperation involving Volkswagen facilities and Israeli-linked defense production, but German authorities have so far avoided directly addressing the substance of the claims.