Germany is coordinating its response to the drone incident at Leipzig Airport earlier this month with its European and NATO allies, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday.
The response from Berlin is “currently being finalized with the European Union and NATO partners,” the chancellor told broadcaster ARD in his traditional summer interview.
Merz’s government has yet to confirm who was responsible for the incident in Leipzig, amid widespread speculation that Russia could be behind it.
The chancellor refused to be drawn on the question, but said the investigation was nearing completion and that his government has agreed on how to respond.
A drone fitted with explosives and a detonation mechanism was discovered on the evening of August 4 in the security zone of Leipzig/Halle Airport, between Ukrainian cargo aircraft.
The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office has taken over the investigation, describing the incident as a “serious attack on transport and logistics infrastructure in Germany.”
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt later said Leipzig was “not an isolated case” but part of a broader pattern.
Security authorities have warned in recent years of “hybrid attacks” from Russia, with Germany and its NATO allies investing heavily to rearm to counter the threat from Moscow.
Merz was pressed in the interview on the spending spree on defence, with the budget for the German military, the Bundeswehr, set to leap from €82 billion ($95 billion) this year to €153 billion in 2028.
“We must rectify the shortcomings of the last 15 years,” said Merz. “The Bundeswehr is not where it ought to be. We must be able to defend ourselves in Germany.”
“What use is the best parental allowance to us if we lose our freedom and peace in Europe is jeopardized?” he questioned.
However, he also insisted that defence projects should become “much more cost-effective,” announcing a fresh review of procurement procedures in coordination with Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
The aim, Merz said, is a modern Bundeswehr.
“We do not want to fall back on old weapons systems,” he explained. “We can see that technological development is advancing at a rapid pace, including in the defence industry.”
New ideas are emerging at universities and research institutions, and defence start-ups are booming, the chancellor said.
“It doesn’t have to be that expensive at all,” he added, pointing to Ukraine’s experience in developing low-cost defence projects such as drones in its war against Russia.