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Germany is looking to set up a joint cyber research centre with Israel and strengthen cooperation between their intelligence and security services, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Sunday.
Germany counts Israel among its closest European allies and Berlin has increasingly turned to Israeli defence expertise as it seeks to enhance its military strength and NATO role amid rising concerns over threats from Russia and China.
“Military defence alone is not enough to meet this new era in security. A robust upgrade in civil defence is just as vital to reinforce our overall defence posture,” Dobrindt said during his visit to Israel, according to a report by Bild newspaper.
Dobrindt, who took office last month under new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, arrived in Israel on Saturday.
The Bild report said Dobrindt presented a five-point initiative aimed at creating a “cyber dome” for Germany as part of its national cyber defence plan.
Meanwhile, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soeder on Sunday urged the procurement of 2,000 interceptor missiles to equip Germany with an “Iron Dome” system modelled on Israel’s short-range missile defence capability.