US intelligence agencies have warned Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) that their cooperation could be scaled back following the arrest of former BND president August Hanning, according to an investigation published by German public broadcasters Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) and Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) and newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung on October 30.
Hanning and his former office manager, Manfred D., were arrested on October 6 in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia respectively.
Germany’s Federal Prosecutor General suspects Hanning of obtaining sensitive intelligence documents with the assistance of the former BND employee over a period of approximately 12 years. According to the prosecutor, the pair agreed around spring 2010 that D. would supply BND findings in exchange for payment and, until June 2022, he allegedly passed on nearly 2,000 documents, many of them classified.
Hanning, 80, led the BND from 1998 to 2005. D., who ran his office there, later headed the offices of several BND presidents until March 2026.
In at least one case, Hanning allegedly attempted to pass classified information to a member of a foreign intelligence service. Prosecutors said it was not yet known whether the material had reached its recipient.
Manfred D. is suspected of helping him obtain the documents and faces charges of aiding attempted treason and treasonous espionage. The case emerged from a 2025 search of Hanning’s premises in a separate probe linked to heiress Christina Block.
The allegations against Hanning include treasonous espionage, gathering state secrets, attempted treason and working as a foreign intelligence agent.
Hanning’s defence lawyer, Leon Kruse, has rejected the accusations. He acknowledged that his client had held confidential documents but denied he had passed on information to Germany’s detriment, “let alone for payment”.
According to NDR, WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung, the US warning reached the BND just days after Hanning’s arrest. Government sources cited in the investigation said Washington had indicated that, although Germany remained an important partner, existing intelligence cooperation would be reviewed.
The United States reportedly intended to maintain intelligence-sharing in urgent cases, particularly when information could help prevent terrorist attacks.
The warning caused considerable concern within the BND. According to sources in Berlin government circles, senior officials were instructed to report any changes in intelligence exchanges with Washington immediately.
In its October 30 report, Tagesschau quoted German security sources describing cooperation with the United States as remaining normal. Some working meetings had been postponed but were subsequently rescheduled.
Several intelligence officials told the investigating journalists though that, in their assessment, both the volume and quality of information received from US agencies had declined.
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul has said a breakdown in cooperation was unimaginable, citing a “very successful and trusting” relationship between the intelligence services. The BND declined to comment.
The full extent of the Hanning affair remains unclear. German investigators are examining whether the former BND chief may have passed classified information to additional foreign intelligence operatives under the cover of commercial security consultancy work.
According to Der Spiegel, they are looking into his contacts with Wang Jianzheng, a former Chinese major general who served as a military attaché in Germany. Wang told the magazine he had not been in touch with Hanning for a long time.
The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has reportedly seized hundreds of additional documents from Hanning, which are now being examined. A separate internal BND investigation is also looking into how sensitive material could have been removed from the agency.
The BND had officially approved D. taking on a side job for Hanning, Der Spiegel reported.
The case has raised concerns about internal security at Germany’s intelligence service and the potential consequences for its intelligence-sharing relationship with Washington.
