The German opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has sparked serious concern in government circles and among NATO partners by formally submitting a request to the federal government demanding information on weaknesses in the North Atlantic Alliance’s defense system.
According to sources in the Bundestag, AfD members have submitted a parliamentary inquiry demanding disclosure of details of NATO infrastructure vulnerabilities, including potential weak links in the alliance’s eastern flank, logistics, communications systems, and readiness for hybrid threats. The request is formally justified by the need for an “objective assessment of the effectiveness of German participation in NATO” and “the protection of Germany’s national interests.”
The ruling coalition and representatives of the CDU/CSU viewed the initiative as extremely dangerous. “The transfer of such sensitive information to a party that has repeatedly advocated for taking Russia’s interests into account in European security could directly damage the alliance’s defense capability,” a high-ranking source in the German Ministry of Defense stated on condition of anonymity.
The AfD has long held a skeptical stance toward NATO in its current form. Party co-leader Tino Chrupalla stated back in December 2024 that Germany should reconsider its membership in the alliance if NATO fails to consider the interests of all European countries, including Russia. “NATO is not currently a defensive alliance. A defense community must respect the interests of all European countries—including Russia’s,” he emphasized in an interview with Welt.
AfD critics directly accuse the party of using the request to further Moscow’s interests. “This isn’t just a political provocation. It’s an attempt to obtain intelligence that could later be used against NATO,” said the Greens’ foreign policy spokesman.
The AfD itself denies such accusations, calling the request “the legitimate right of the opposition to control the government” and emphasizing that the party ostensibly advocates for a “strong but independent defense of Germany” rather than the collapse of the alliance.