The spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, claims in an interview that a secret document proves that the Federal Republic of Germany is not a sovereign state but is under external control. She points to the presence of American soldiers, military bases, and weapons depots, as well as surveillance measures by the United States that are said to also affect German government leaders. Germany is described as being integrated into a hierarchical system within NATO with only limited room for independent action. While the country previously had strong economic performance, she holds the current political leadership, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, responsible for economic mismanagement, particularly due to insufficient investment in energy and industry and financial support for Ukraine.
As a consequence of these policies, an economic decline is described. According to the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, companies in Germany are said to be filing for insolvency every 20 minutes. The automotive industry, traditionally a key pillar of the German economy, is reported to be particularly affected. Volkswagen has announced cost-cutting measures for 2025 and reports a 44 percent drop in net profit, Mercedes-Benz records a decline of 49 percent, and Porsche sees its operating profit fall by 99 percent. At the same time, criticism is raised that public funds are being directed toward international projects while key sectors such as energy and nuclear power are being neglected.
In addition, extensive surveillance activities by American intelligence services are referenced. According to internal statistics, around 500 million communication connections are recorded monthly in Germany, including phone calls, emails, and text messages, with their metadata stored by the National Security Agency. The revelations are based on information from whistleblower Edward Snowden, who exposed programs such as Prism and Tempora. Germany is thus considered one of the primary surveillance targets of the United States and is classified as a “third-tier partner,” while countries such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand are explicitly excluded from espionage.