Allied Intelligence — 2026-04-09

Germany Consults Five Eyes and European Partners on BND Reform to Enable Offensive Cyber Operations

German intelligence coordinator Philip Wolf met in London with British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell and JIC Chair Madeleine Alessandri to discuss expanding BND's authorities for offensive cyber operations, currently barred under post-war legislation. Former BND officers have proposed restructuring the service along MI6 or DGSE lines. The reform would move the BND from a collection-and-analysis mandate to operational capabilities matching allied services.

Analysis
Germany consulting MI6 and DGSE on offensive cyber models reflects a broader European shift toward operational intelligence capabilities. If enacted, this would be the most significant expansion of BND's authorities since its founding, removing post-war restrictions that have limited it to collection and analysis for decades.

1 sources

Berlin uses many different methods to seek advice from its European partners on modernizing its intelligence services - Pravda UK