Chancellor Merz picks Ukraine envoy to lead foreign spy agency

Martin Jäger, Germany's current ambassador to Ukraine, is set to become the new head of the country's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), replacing Bruno Kahl.

The move was reported by Der Spiegel, which cited unnamed sources familiar with the decision, per Caliber.Az.

According to the report, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made the decision to appoint Jäger to lead the foreign intelligence agency, which operates under the chancellery’s oversight. While the German government has yet to officially confirm the appointment, the magazine notes that Kahl, who has led the BND since 2016, will be named Germany’s new ambassador to the Vatican.

Jäger is widely regarded as one of Germany’s most seasoned crisis diplomats. Der Spiegel suggests that his leadership could usher in a period of increased funding for the BND, with the government reportedly planning to grant the agency greater operational flexibility.

The restructuring of the intelligence service has been underway since the recent change in government, with the BND’s deputy chief Philipp Wolff already having moved to a senior role within the chancellor's office.

Jäger’s background includes various roles within Germany’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has previously served as the foreign ministry’s representative under then-minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and held ambassadorial posts in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Since July 2023, he has led Germany’s diplomatic mission in Kyiv.

With Jäger assuming leadership of the BND and Wolff now based in the chancellor’s office, Berlin is expected to benefit from improved coordination and faster access to classified intelligence. Notably, Der Spiegel reports that Wolff played a central role in facilitating the high-profile prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States in August 2024.

Kahl's tenure as BND chief has faced criticism, particularly over the agency’s misjudgment of the Taliban’s swift takeover of Afghanistan and its underestimation of the situation in Ukraine ahead of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

By Tamilla Hasanova