2024-07-19 21:43:55
The news of a Russian assassination plot against the Rheinmetall boss caused a stir at the NATO summit. Foreign Minister Baerbock reacted clearly, and Chancellor Scholz also commented on the matter.
Rheinmetall can be called the most important German company at present. The Düsseldorf-based arms company is playing a key role in the “turning point” proclaimed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. From tanks to artillery ammunition, the company supplies a large proportion of the military equipment needed to arm the German army. In the coming weeks, it plans to open a tank factory in Ukraine. Since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine two and a half years ago, its share price has increased sixfold.
On Thursday evening, alarm bells rang in the German security community: The US news channel CNN reported on a perfidious plan, citing five officials from the USA and other Western countries. According to the report, Russian secret services had planned an assassination attempt on Rheinmetall boss Armin Papperger at the beginning of the year. Warned by partner services, German intelligence services were able to thwart the assassination plan.
The news caused a stir at the NATO summit in Washington. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reacted immediately: “Russia is waging a hybrid war of aggression,” she said. “We as Europeans must protect ourselves as best we can and must not be naive.” You can see the full statement here:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz also commented on the incident afterwards. “We know that we are exposed to Russian threats in many different ways,” he said at the NATO summit.
According to the CNN report, the Kremlin also planned to murder other Western leaders in Europe. There are indications of a large-scale Russian sabotage campaign in western states that support Ukraine. “We see sabotage, we see assassination plans, we see arson. We see things that cost human lives,” the US broadcaster quoted a high-ranking NATO representative as saying. “I am firmly convinced that we are witnessing a campaign of covert sabotage activities from Russia that have strategic consequences.” A German government official confirmed that Berlin had been warned of the plot by the US.
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Rheinmetall has grown strongly. The arms manufacturer recently received framework contracts from the German army. One of them is for artillery ammunition worth up to 8.5 billion euros, another for military trucks worth up to 3.5 billion euros.