NATO Base in Germany Raises Security Level Over Alleged Russian Sabotage

The security level at a NATO base in Germany, home to a fleet of AWACS surveillance planes, was raised last week due to a potential drone threat, according to reports from Germany's Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA).

The base, located in Geilenkirchen, houses 14 Boeing E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, which are vital to protecting NATO airspace through advanced surveillance.

The move came after German intelligence detected signs of what they believed could be preparations for a potential Russian sabotage attempt using a drone. As a precaution, the North Atlantic Alliance increased the security level at the base to "Charlie," the second-highest level in NATO's security scale, during most of Friday. This led to the temporary dismissal of base personnel as security measures were tightened.

However, despite the concerns, no drones were spotted during this heightened alert. The security level was later lowered back to Bravo+ once it became clear that the threat had not materialized.

Christian Brett, a spokesperson for the Geilenkirchen base, downplayed the situation, calling the idea of drone flyovers “absurd” in a statement on Friday. Similarly, a NATO spokesperson at the base clarified that discussions centered on a general drone threat, with no specific mention of Russia being involved.

"Russia was never explicitly mentioned. We discussed the possibility of a drone threat," the NATO spokesperson added. Meanwhile, another security source told Reuters that no drones had been seen and there was no confirmation of Russian involvement in the situation.

Geilenkirchen has been a key base for NATO’s reconnaissance missions since 1980, providing critical support to the alliance’s air defense systems. AWACS planes stationed there are equipped with mobile radar systems that can detect aircraft, ships, vehicles, and even missiles over long distances.

The heightened security comes at a time of growing tensions between NATO and Russia, particularly in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Although there has been no official statement from Moscow regarding the incident, Russia has consistently denied any involvement in sabotage attempts against Western nations aiding Ukraine's defense.

Reports of drone activity in northern Germany have added to the growing concern. On August 22, German media outlet Bild reported that Russian Orlan-10 drones were seen flying over an industrial zone in Flensburg, northern Germany. The drones were allegedly surveying an area with chemical plants, a gas terminal, and a decommissioned nuclear power plant, raising suspicions about possible Russian espionage activities.

Additionally, earlier this year, Russia lost two A-50 AWACS aircraft, similar to the NATO-operated Boeing E-3A AWACS. It remains unclear under what circumstances these losses occurred. Ukrainian officials claimed the aircraft were shot down by their forces, while Russian media suggested they may have been downed in friendly fire from Russian air defense.