Who is behind the attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport? The federal government is likely to comment on this very soon. The question is how she will react.
Berlin. According to media reports, the federal government blames Russia for the attempted attack with an explosive drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport. It is assumed that a Russian secret service was the author, report “Bild” and “Spiegel”. Politicians and experts named Russia as the likely mastermind soon after the incident in early August.
The federal government has not yet commented publicly on this. But this is expected shortly. It is eagerly awaited what consequences the federal government will draw. There are increasing signs that she will announce this later in the day.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) wants to make a stopover in Berlin on the way from Algiers to the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Ireland for consultations with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), as was heard from Wadephul's delegation circles in the Algerian capital Algiers.
The drone, which had been prepared with explosives, was discovered on the evening of August 4th in the security area of the airport between Ukrainian cargo planes. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office spoke of a “serious attack on the transport and logistics infrastructure in Germany”. The investigation is underway on suspicion of attempting to cause an explosive explosion and dangerous interference with air traffic.
According to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, there are many indications that Russia has something to do with the drone. She made this connection, but it was ultimately up to the Germans to say what was behind the incident, she said on the sidelines of a meeting of EU defense ministers near Dublin. Then we could also talk about what additional things the EU could do.
Kallas said that one could also see in other countries that the Russians were becoming more and more provocative. So the question arises as to what to do about it to deter them from going any further.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has announced a clear reaction from the federal government to the failed drone attack. Last week he announced that the government would soon comment on findings about the authors.
In principle, Germany could respond by expelling Russian diplomats, but this would be a relatively mild measure in the face of a serious incident. It would also be conceivable that Germany could make use of Article 4 of the NATO Treaty. This provides for consultations between allies if a NATO state feels threatened from outside.
If a Russian state actor were to be named as the mastermind, stricter action against the so-called shadow fleet would also be conceivable. It consists of tankers and cargo ships that Russia uses to avoid sanctions, for example when transporting oil. It is also increasingly associated with acts of espionage and sabotage.
The Greens in particular have recently called several times for the Russian Cultural Institute in Berlin - also known as the Russian House - to be closed. However, with all steps the federal government would have to expect retaliation from Moscow; for example with the expulsion of German diplomats or the closure of the Goethe Institute.
