The German Federal Ministry of the Interior plans to establish a special joint security center to more effectively counter hybrid threats originating from abroad.
The new unit will be based at the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and will combine the efforts of federal and state security agencies. The center’s main task will be to rapidly identify, analyze, and neutralize covert attacks, including:
Cyberattacks,
acts of sabotage,
disinformation campaigns,
intelligence operations,
other forms of covert influence.
The initiative was a response to the sharp increase in such threats, primarily from Russia. In recent months, German intelligence agencies have recorded an increase in incidents ranging from suspicious drone flights over critical infrastructure to large-scale campaigns to spread fake news and attempts to destabilize public opinion.
The creation of the center is one of the key elements of a broad action plan against hybrid threats, developed on behalf of the newly created National Security Council (Nationaler Sicherheitsrat) after its first meeting at the end of 2025.
Experts note that Germany is shifting from a predominantly reactive approach to proactive, coordinated defense. The new center is intended to become a “think tank” and a hub for real-time information gathering, similar to existing structures for countering cyber threats and illegal drones (Gemeinsames Drohnenabwehrzentrum, opened in December 2025).
The specific launch date and staffing levels for the center are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The creation of the new structure is seen as an important signal of a serious change in Berlin’s approach to defending against the “gray zone” of modern hybrid warfare.