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News | July 28, 2020

With Friends Like These: Assessing Russian Influence in Germany

By Jeffrey Mankoff CSIS Report

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190916-N-UN744-1044 TODENDORF, Germany (Sept. 16, 2019) An explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 works alongside a German military working dog handler while conducting a route clearance mission during exercise Northern Coasts in Todendorf, Germany, Sept. 16, 2019. Northern Coasts provides the opportunity for participating nations to engage in realistic maritime training, to build experience and teamwork, and strengthen our interoperability as we work toward mutual goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Travis Simmons/Released)
190916-N-UN744-1044.JPG
190916-N-UN744-1044
190916-N-UN744-1044 TODENDORF, Germany (Sept. 16, 2019) An explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 works alongside a German military working dog handler while conducting a route clearance mission during exercise Northern Coasts in Todendorf, Germany, Sept. 16, 2019. Northern Coasts provides the opportunity for participating nations to engage in realistic maritime training, to build experience and teamwork, and strengthen our interoperability as we work toward mutual goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Travis Simmons/Released)
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Photo By: MCC Travis Simmons
VIRIN: 190916-N-UN744-1044

As Europe’s unquestioned heavyweight and a country with deep political, economic, and cultural ties to Russia, Germany has been a frequent target of Russian influence activities. Yet compared to other countries, Germany has proven relatively resilient. In this report, Jeffrey Mankoff examines the nature and tactics of Russian influence operations in Germany, which characteristics have made Germany vulnerable and resistant to Russian influence, and what lessons the German experience offers for other democratic states in countering malign influence activities.

This case study on Germany is part of an ambitious year-long CSIS initiative to analyze Russian influence activities in the United Kingdom and Germany, and Chinese influence activities in Japan and Australia.

Read the rest at CSIS - 

Dr. Jeffrey Mankoff is a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, Center for Strategic Research at National Defense University.