\n<\/p>\n
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has warned of growing confrontation between Russia and NATO, in an interview with the Handelsblatt newspaper published on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Russian President Vladimir Putin no longer has any scruples, according to Faeser, and has become more aggressive towards NATO members like Germany since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.<\/p>\n
“Since the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, we have experienced a turning point in internal security. Russia is waging a hybrid war in Europe. It is obvious that disinformation campaigns, acts of sabotage and cyberattacks are state-controlled,” she said.<\/p>\n
But Faeser urged restraint and judiciousness in response, saying that she did “not hope that the threshold for a NATO alliance case will be crossed. We must continue to act decisively, but at the same time prudently.”<\/p>\n
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had always acted to prevent Germany from falling into such a scenario – “but of course we can see that the hybrid threat situation is increasing. That’s why we have to position and protect ourselves completely differently,” she said.<\/p>\n
Before the European Parliament elections in June, Germany’s security services and other EU partners uncovered a massive Russian campaign of influence and lies, Faeser noted.<\/p>\n
German authorities will take the necessary steps to counter any such efforts to influence Germany’s upcoming early elections slated for February, and the country’s domestic intelligence agency has set up a task force, she said.<\/p>\n
When asked whether Russia had intensified its sabotage activities, Faeser said: “We are registering a significant increase. That is why critical infrastructure must be better protected.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n