At the center of his assessment is the growing security relevance of offshore wind farms as integral components of the power grid. The war in Ukraine, along with suspected acts of sabotage against undersea cables, has made clear that these installations represent attractive targets for systemic rivals. Protecting this infrastructure is therefore essential to ensuring the stability of energy supply, Brake argues.
At the same time, he points to the considerable challenges involved in safeguarding offshore facilities. In order to meet ambitious expansion targets, wind farms are increasingly being built farther from the coast, in some cases even beyond national territorial waters, further complicating protection efforts. While a legal framework exists, its clear interpretation and consistent application continue to pose challenges for Germany. The vast spatial dispersion of the installations also makes effective security more complex.
Brake emphasizes that effective protection can only be achieved through close cooperation between wind farm operators and the coastal states concerned. In this context, Germany must make efficient use of existing structures within NATO and the European Union. These efforts are hindered, however, by the current distribution of responsibilities: in peacetime, the Bundeswehr is not primarily tasked with protecting critical infrastructure, creating security policy grey areas.
In conclusion, Brake issues a clear call to action. Germany must significantly strengthen its navy and, in particular, increase both the speed and determination with which it builds an effective protection regime for offshore wind farms. Given the current security environment, further hesitation is no longer justifiable if long-term resilience of the energy supply is to be ensured.