Fresh Take: New Top Diplomat Jäger Steps into Role as BND Chief
Appointment of senior diplomat Jaeger as the new head of the BND agency announced by the cabinet - Government selects prominent diplomat Jäger as the new director of the BND agency
Get ready for a shakeup at the Federal Intelligence Service (BND)! The German Federal Cabinet has appointed Martin Jäger, a seasoned diplomat and public administrator, to take the helm as its new chief. The exact start date for Jäger's tenure remains undisclosed, but outgoing BND president, Bruno Kahl, is reportedly on his way to becoming German ambassador to the Vatican, a move he requested himself.
Jäger, a native of Ulm, boasts an impressive career spanning government, diplomacy, and even stints in the private sector. He earned degrees in ethnology and political science in Munich before diving into the deep end of German politics. Jäger's journey has traversed various roles in the Foreign Ministry, the Chancellor’s Office, and diplomatic missions, including stints in Prague[1].
During the 2000s, Jäger served as spokesperson and advisor to Frank-Walter Steinmeier, then Foreign Minister, where he played a crucial role in crisis communications during the kidnapping of German citizens in Iraq. His contributions didn't stop there - Jäger also served as ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan, and most recently, to Ukraine[1][2].
An intriguing detour in Jäger's career led him to the private sector. From 2008 to …, he headed external relations at Daimler AG, earning a reputation as the company's unofficial foreign minister[2].
Back in the realm of German politics, Jäger identifies as a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, and has held various positions, such as spokesperson for the finance ministry under Wolfgang Schäuble and state secretary in the Ministry of the Interior[1].
Jäger is set to take over from Kahl, bringing to the role a wealth of experience in international politics and crisis management. The BND, an arm of the German chancellery responsible for intelligence gathering abroad, is expected to undergo reorganization under Jäger's leadership to enhance its capabilities and flexibility in espionage and technical reconnaissance[1][2].
Members of the Parliamentary Control Panel (PKGr) of the Bundestag, the body that oversees German intelligence services, have generally approved of Jäger's appointment. Konstantin von Notz, the outgoing PKGr chairman, complimented the speedy resolution of Kahl's succession, while expressing his faction's commitment to monitoring Jäger's work "critically but constructively"[1].
Roderich Kiesewetter, the CDU's foreign policy expert, has praised Jäger's extensive experiences, particularly in challenging territories such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine, which he believes will provide the necessary broad view of security threats[1].
Both Notz and Kiesewetter have called for reforms to the intelligence services law, seeing it as long overdue. Additional legal authorizations in intelligence work are also seen as necessary to adapt to new threat scenarios[1]. The PKGr is expected to reassemble on June 26, with the responsibility of guiding Jäger's tenure and ensuring the continued effectiveness of the BND.
- Jäger
- Chief
- BND
- Bruno Kahl
- Federal Cabinet
- PKGr
- Afghanistan
- CDU
- Konstantin von Notz
- Steffen Meyer
- Ukraine
- Intelligence Services
- Vatican
- Roderich Kiesewetter
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- SPD
- Daimler
- Federal Ministry of Finance
- Wolfgang Schäuble
- Ministry of the Interior
[1] - German Source
[2] - Bundesanzeiger
The Commission's decision to initiate the procedure in Article 93 (2) of the Treaty for the granting of aid for the construction of a new railway line between the Community and the Republic of Croatia is a significant policy-and-legislation news in the broader context of European politics and general news, as the new BND chief, Martin Jäger, brings a wealth of experience in international politics and crisis management to his role, following his appointment by the Federal Cabinet. Upon his tenure at the BND, Jäger is expected to work critically but constructively under the supervision of the Parliamentary Control Panel (PKGr) of the Bundestag, much like the way he did as spokesperson for the finance ministry under Wolfgang Schäuble and state secretary in the Ministry of the Interior during his career.
