Britain and Germany are set to launch a new joint partnership aimed at tackling sabotage and cyberattacks as Prime Minister Andy Burnham and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet in Berlin on Thursday.
The partnership will see the two countries share information and coordinate efforts to monitor, deter and disrupt threats targeting critical infrastructure, including those carried out through cyberattacks and sabotage, Downing Street said.
The move comes after both leaders warned of the growing hybrid threat posed by Russia across Europe and beyond. British ministers were also due last month to brief defence companies and operators of critical national infrastructure about the risks posed by Russia.
Germany’s foreign intelligence chief issued a fresh warning on Monday, saying the confrontation with Russia had entered a “new, more dangerous dimension”.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over potential attacks on critical infrastructure and other forms of hybrid warfare across Europe.
Last month, Germany said it had concluded that Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack targeting Leipzig/Halle Airport in August, further fuelling concerns over Moscow’s alleged use of disruptive tactics against European countries.
