Germany has included Russia on the list of threats to national security
Die Welt reports that the new edition of the “White Book,” which serves as a guide for the management of German national security policy, now lists Russia as one of the main threats to German national security.
The newspaper states that the German government has not updated the White Book since 2006. The new version of the document states that in terms of security, the world "has changed a lot," as everything became "complicated, volatile and difficult to predict." In this regard, the updated White Book now says that Russia "is no longer a partner for Germany, but the opponent" and is a main threat because it is "ready to forcefully advance its interests."
Germany cites the situation in Crimea and in eastern Ukraine as examples, stressing that "hybrid instruments that blur the boundaries between war and peace" and "subversive activities against other countries" cause great concern to German authorities. Russia is turning away from the West, emphasizing strategic rivalry and increasing its military activity at the external borders of the EU, the book says.
"Without a fundamental change of course in the foreseeable future, Russia will become a security threat on our continent," the document concludes. Other threats to the national security of Germany named in the new White Book are terrorism, cybercrime, nationalism, the arms race, uncontrolled migration, global warming and epidemics.
The new White Book is about 80 pages long. It was prepared by the Ministry of Defense in cooperation with other relevant agencies and will be submitted for approval to the government.