Merz say German spy agency BND must operate at ‘highest level’

BERLIN

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday that the country's intelligence agency, the BND, must take a more active role in combating hybrid attacks from foreign rivals and adversaries.

"Given the responsibility we bear due to our size and economic strength in Europe, the BND should operate at the highest level in terms of intelligence," Merz said during the inauguration ceremony for the BND's new president, Martin Jaeger.

"We want the BND to collaborate excellently with our other security agencies and the German armed forces (Bundeswehr), as well as with intelligence partners internationally," Merz said, adding that the current security situation is more serious than at any other time in post-war history.

Martin Jaeger, a veteran diplomat who most recently served as Germany's ambassador to Ukraine, has replaced Bruno Kahl as BND president after Kahl's nine-year tenure.

Before his posting in Ukraine, Jaeger served as German ambassador to Afghanistan (2013-2014) and Iraq (2021-2023). He also held positions as state secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (2018-2021) and as press spokesman for former Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble (2014-2016).