KSK commander sees new orders coming to elite unit

Created: 09/18/2022, 05:17

A soldier from the Bundeswehr Special Forces Command (KSK) with a so-called access service dog.

© Marijan Murat/dpa

Freeing hostages, evacuation operations, reconnaissance behind enemy lines: the KSK's area of ​​responsibility is extensive.

The geopolitical situation could bring the special forces more onto the scene.

Calw - According to its commander, Brigadier General Ansgar Meyer, the Bundeswehr Special Forces Command (KSK) is ready for orders to defend partners in the transatlantic alliance.

The plans for this are currently being reworked in NATO, Meyer told the German Press Agency in Calw (Baden-Württemberg), the location of the elite unit.

There is already a partner program with Lithuania and increased cooperation, which will later be extended to the other Baltic States and Poland.

The tasks of special forces include rescuing hostages and evacuation operations, but also reconnaissance behind enemy lines and combating so-called high-value targets.

“We have many skills.

Do these skills still fit into an expanded range of tasks?

This must now be critically examined.

Of course, that also has to be supported politically,” said Meyer.

And: “There are special forces in the world that also officially have the portfolio to destabilize states.

That would be difficult for me to imagine from a German perspective.”

The way the KSK is trained, the command can also carry out tasks within the framework of the alliance's defense, "which can achieve a relatively high effect with a small amount of force," said Meyer.

There must be a discussion about the possibilities and limits.

Meyer: "At the moment I would see the task of special forces in such a case as more of fighting special forces that are trying to attack us.

So enlighten, fight, prevent that from happening at all.” dpa