Germany’s AfD sparks fears it is helping Russia with inquiry on NATO weaknesses

The far-right party is pressing the government for information on a drill in Estonia last year that exposed the vulnerabilities of NATO forces.

The far-right opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has triggered security fears in Berlin after officially requesting information on vulnerabilities in NATO defenses — insight that would prove useful to the Kremlin.

The AfD, which frequently takes positions favorable to Russia, has developed an interest in last year's "Hedgehog 2025" exercise, a major NATO operation in Estonia, in which Ukrainian drone specialists used tactics learned on the battlefield to "destroy" NATO units in a war game.

In a letter obtained by POLITICO, Rüdiger Lucassen, the AfD's defense spokesperson, asked the government on Feb. 19 to brief the defense committee in the country's parliament on the lessons learned from the drill.

“What capability gaps were identified — particularly in the areas of counter-drone defense, electronic warfare, command capability and the protection of mobile forces?” Lucassen asked in the letter. He also sought clarification on “which capability gaps still exist and by when they are to be closed.”

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