NATO boosts security at its air base in Germany

NATO said it has ordered all non-negotiable staff to return home as a safeguard clause.

On the air base in Geilenkirchen, near the border with the Netherlands, NATO's warning and air control surveillance aircraft, known as AWACS, are located.

In her post on the social network X on Thursday evening, NATO's AWACS fleet said that “has increased security level”, but did not explain the nature of the potential threat.

She said her “operations continue according to plan”.

The base in Geilenkirchen said Friday there is nothing to add to that statement and that the “situation is currently unchanged”.

German news agency DPA said a journalist without police cars at the air base. Police confirmed their presence on Thursday evening, but did not elaborate Friday morning.

Last week, a large German air force base in the vicinity of Kiln was closed for several hours, fearing that its water supply had been contaminated. An investigation found no evidence of pollution.

These incidents occurred at a time of fear for the potential vulnerability of infrastructure to Russia's sabotage attempts.

On Thursday, prosecutors in Flensburg, north of Germany, said they are investigating spying allegations aimed at sabotage, without explaining who might be behind it. rel