The Bundeswehr is facing a major change of its strategy in cyber warfare. In addition to defense against cyberattacks, the German army is due to perform attacks on foreign states, DWN wrote, referring to a strategy paper of the German Ministry of Defense.
According to the guidelines, Germany has to play a decisive role in cyberspace. Internet and other communication platforms are defined as a new "operating room" of the Bundeswehr besides classical threats on land as well as in the air, sea and space.
"The spectrum of threats ranges from cyber espionage and sabotage to open cyber conflict," German Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen said.
The more advanced technologies a country has, the greater the security threat is, she added.
Germany faces increasing cyberattacks on its infrastructure. Therefore, according to German officials, the Bundeswehr should be responsible for "the defense against cyberattacks, which represent an armed attack on Germany" in the future.
However, the plans of the German Minister of Defense go even further. The Bundeswehr is expected to be able to carry out "offensive cyberattacks inside the country and abroad". For instance, it is expected to be able to "reduce and, possibly, even eliminate" the access of the enemy to mobile networks and Internet.
In order to fulfill this new role, the IT resources should be increased and centralized, German officials argue.
