Laschet Advocates for Independent National Security Advisor Following Drone Incident

On August 12, 2026, during an appearance on the ARD talk show "maischberger," CDU politician Armin Laschet called for the establishment of an independent National Security Advisor in light of a recent incident involving an explosive drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Laschet emphasized the need for a dedicated individual who could work around the clock to identify vulnerabilities among federal and state agencies, including the Federal Police, Bundeswehr, and local police forces.

Laschet stated, "There must be an external person whose task is to define all these weaknesses between the federal and state levels, between the Federal Police, Bundeswehr, and the local police." He believes that this advisor should operate independently from the usual governmental framework, suggesting that it is crucial to have someone who can highlight deficiencies from an external perspective.

In discussing reactions to the drone incident, Laschet criticized his party colleague Roderich Kiesewetter for suggesting consultations under Article 4 of NATO. He remarked, "Kiesewetter is the only one from both the SPD and CDU/CSU nationwide. No one else is saying it, not even the federal government. To demand such an escalation out of nowhere, I find that somewhat irresponsible."

Laschet also urged caution regarding speculation about the perpetrators of the drone attack. He remarked, "We must still hold ourselves to the standard of adhering to facts and listening to what our services say." He posed a critical question: "Was it Russia? And what evidence do we have for that?" This underscores the need for a careful and fact-based approach to national security issues.

The episode of "maischberger" featuring Laschet aired at 22:50 on the ARD channel.

"maischberger" is a collaborative production of ARD, produced by WDR in partnership with Vincent Productions GmbH.