NAccording to initial investigations, an “individual application error” is responsible for the fact that the conversation of high-ranking Bundeswehr officers about the Taurus weapon system could be intercepted. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) said this on Tuesday in Berlin. The error goes back to the participant who took part in the conversation from Singapore. Pistorius ruled out the possibility that a Russian spy had dialed into the conversation.
Pistorius continued that after discussions with allies he had not noticed any damage to trust in NATO partner Germany. The fact that Russia was able to make a recording of the conversation between German officers about the use of the Taurus cruise missile by Ukraine was a serious mistake. However, according to the interim results of the test, this was caused by an individual error by the officer in Singapore and not by the Bundeswehr’s supposedly insecure communication systems, emphasized the Defense Minister. Preliminary disciplinary investigations have been initiated against all participants in the switching conference, but this does not mean a prior conviction.
Baerbock: “Perpetrator-victim reversal” by Russia
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, meanwhile, described the wiretapping scandal as part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hybrid warfare. The events showed “that the Russian war of aggression is not only waged with bombs, missiles, drones and the worst attacks on the civilian population in Ukraine,” said the Green politician on Tuesday at a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Elmedin Konakovic , in the capital Sarajevo. It is more about “hybrid warfare, which is also a war of narratives”. In this context, she once again warned of a “perpetrator-victim reversal” by Russia.
Putin’s hybrid warfare is also about “destabilizing other European countries,” said Baerbock. “And that’s why it’s so important for us that we don’t underestimate all these facets of this hybrid warfare.” Every country, including Germany, must do everything “to ensure that we are protected in the best possible way” with regard to its internal security and cybersecurity. The same applies to external security.
“I am the Chancellor, and that’s why this applies”
On Friday, Russia published a recorded conference call of four senior officers, including Air Force Chief Ingo Gerhartz. In it, they discussed operational scenarios for the German Taurus cruise missile if it were to be delivered to Ukraine. The recording also shows that there is no political approval for the delivery of the cruise missiles demanded by Kiev.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) justified his rejection by saying that Germany could then be drawn into the war. On Monday he reiterated his position and said: “I am the Chancellor, and therefore this applies.” Taurus has a range of 500 kilometers and can therefore also hit targets in Moscow from Ukraine.
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