Dobrindt wants to allow the German army to shoot down drones – and receives criticism from the police
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) called for granting the German army (Bundeswehr) the authority to shoot down drones, pointing to the increasing threats of sabotage and espionage. His proposal has drawn severe criticism from the police, which asserts that internal security should remain its responsibility.
The controversy escalated after drones were spotted over Schleswig-Holstein on Friday, prompting an investigation. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) supported Dobrindt's call, stating that Germany must act decisively: "We will not allow these attacks to continue." Dobrindt warned that the threat posed by drones is "high," emphasizing that there is an arms race between the threat of drone technology and defense against it.
To address these challenges, the Ministry of the Interior plans to establish a dedicated center for defense against drones, in collaboration with Israel. According to reports from Die Zeit, a joint research project is already underway. Dobrinth confirmed that in the future, drones will be monitored, intercepted, and shot down when necessary.
To implement this legally, the government is seeking to amend the Aviation Security Act. The changes will grant the Bundeswehr the authority to use weapons against drones in the event of an imminent threat. Responsibility, which was previously held by state authorities and the police, will be transferred to the Ministry of Defense. Dobrindt emphasized that federal and local authorities, as well as police forces, must be integrated more closely to address this growing threat.
However, the German Police Union (GdP) rejected the proposal. Its leadership told the Rheinische Post that politicians should instead provide all necessary resources for the federal police and state police to protect critical infrastructure from drone threats. The union added: "The police are responsible for security in the country," warning against transferring essential internal security tasks to the military.