The most active foreign intelligence services in Germany are those of Russia, Iran, China, and Turkey, according to a report by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. The German capital is once again at the center of espionage activity, as it was during the Cold War, with agents of these states effectively flooding the city, according to Haberler.
The new 140-page report by the agency states that the threat of espionage and sabotage in Berlin remains high. Berlin Senator for Interior and Sport Iris Spranger said the capital is in the focus of foreign intelligence services. Head of the Berlin branch of Germany’s domestic intelligence service Michael Fischer added that the situation is unlikely to change in the near future. According to him, these four countries conduct a wide range of operations, including classical espionage, disinformation, cyberattacks, and sabotage.
Foreign intelligence services conduct both overt and covert activities in Germany, targeting individuals they consider enemies of their regimes. With technological development, cyber-espionage has become a standard tool for them.
Germany identifies Russia as a direct threat, accusing it of sabotage and disinformation. In recent years, Russian intelligence activity has increased, with more frequent attacks on IT infrastructure. In addition, Russian intelligence allegedly attempted to influence the German population ahead of snap parliamentary elections in order to undermine trust in democratic institutions and turn citizens against parties supporting aid to Ukraine and sanctions.
China focuses on economic and technological espionage. Chinese cyber actors have significantly improved their technical capabilities, increasing the scale and effectiveness of hacks against critical systems in Berlin.
Iran concentrates on strict control and transnational repression. Iranian agents reportedly conduct covert surveillance in Berlin of opposition figures, dissidents, and members of Jewish and Israeli organizations considered enemies by the Tehran regime.
Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) is also highly active. It operates in Berlin through both official diplomatic personnel and an agent network of unregistered informants. MIT has broad powers and conducts surveillance against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and supporters of the Gülen movement. The agency recruits cooperation from loyal citizens of Turkish origin, who can report “enemies of the state” via an online form on MIT’s website.
