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Germany Bans Chinese Drones and Cars From Military Bases Over Spying Fears
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Germany’s armed forces have barred small commercial drones made in China from military barracks and training grounds and restricted Chinese-built vehicles from entering military facilities over espionage concerns.
The German Defense Ministry, led by Boris Pistorius, confirmed the decision. Officials stated that existing Chinese equipment will be phased out and replaced with German or European alternatives, Der Spiegel reported.
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The directive applies to small off-the-shelf drones from major Chinese manufacturers, including DJI. Military leadership initiated the ban following concerns that these devices could transmit sensitive data to Chinese intelligence agencies.
Potential exposures include imagery of military bases, training areas, and information on German weapons systems. Local commanders had previously been permitted to purchase off-the-shelf commercial drones with minimal red tape. The Defense Ministry declined to disclose how many Chinese drones were acquired since 2024, citing military security.
Alongside the drone ban, the military imposed broad access restrictions on Chinese vehicles. Command units circulated lists of models from manufacturers such as BYD, Geely, and NIO that are prohibited from entering secure zones, as reported by Der Spiegel.
Personnel driving these vehicles must park outside military bases and proceed on foot. The vehicle ban stems from concerns that integrated sensors and cameras could capture and send confidential information to foreign intelligence services.
The move comes amid a broader German crackdown on espionage. Authorities recently arrested former Federal Intelligence Service (BND) chief August Hanning and former BND employee Manfred D. on suspicion of treason.
According to Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Manfred D. allegedly supplied Hanning with approximately 2,000 classified BND documents over several years in exchange for payment. Prosecutors stated that Hanning used some of this confidential material for private consulting and passed political and intelligence analysis to representatives of foreign intelligence services.
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