Wiretapped Bundeswehr conversation
Kiesewetter: Russia wants to stop Taurus deliveries
March 2, 2024, 2:26 a.m
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The fact that Russian secret services allegedly intercepted an internal conversation between high-ranking air force officers is causing concern – but this does not come as a surprise to CDU defense politician Kiesewetter. He assumes that Moscow will add more leaks.
Politicians from the Green Party and the CDU/CSU are expressing concern about reports that Russia intercepted an internal conversation between German Bundeswehr officers about the Taurus cruise missile. “If this story turns out to be true, it would be a highly problematic process,” said the chairman of the Bundestag’s parliamentary control committee, Konstantin von Notz, to the Editorial Network Germany (RND). “The question arises as to whether this is a one-off event or a structural security problem,” added the Green politician. “I expect all background information to be clarified immediately.”
The CDU defense politician Roderich Kiesewetter expects further intercepted conversations to be published. “There will certainly have been a number of other conversations that were intercepted and possibly leaked at a later date for Russia’s benefit,” he told ZDF. It can be assumed “that the conversation was specifically leaked by Russia at this point in time with a specific intention. This can only be to prevent a Taurus delivery from Germany.”
Ministry of Defense is reviewing operations
The “Bild” newspaper had reported that Russian propaganda channels had published a recording of a wiretapped conversation between Bundeswehr officers. In the recording you can hear four Bundeswehr officers discussing the capabilities of the Taurus cruise missile and what challenges would be associated with delivery to Ukraine. A spokeswoman for the Defense Ministry said it was investigating “whether communications in the Air Force area were intercepted.” The Federal Office for the Military Counterintelligence Service has “introduced all necessary measures”.
In the conversation, the officers also discussed ways in which Taurus cruise missiles could be used in Ukraine even without specific target data transmission by the Bundeswehr. Chancellor Olaf Scholz gave detailed reasons for his rejection of Taurus deliveries at the beginning of the week, primarily arguing technically. The use of Taurus cruise missiles by Ukraine would require the participation of German soldiers in targeting, he said.
Scholz fears that Germany could be indirectly drawn into the Ukraine war. Representatives of the coalition partners Greens and FDP, on the other hand, openly advocate Taurus deliveries to Ukraine, and some Social Democrats would also support them.