Welcome to the homepage of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) – we are very pleased that you are interested in our work.

The homepage of a foreign intelligence service – isn’t this a contradiction in terms, you might well ask. Of course, intelligence services are able to work successfully only if sensitive information is protected effectively and remains secret. But the Bundesnachrichtendienst is also the instrument of a democratic state based on the rule of law. This means: there are clear statutory regulations for its work and efficient parliamentary oversight. And it also means: the public has a legitimate claim to learn more about our work.

It is a result of German history that the activities of the Bundesnachrichtendienst have from the outset been subject to critical, and sometimes also sceptical, questions - and rightly so. For the existence and work of a foreign intelligence service in a democracy must not be an end in itself.

In the past few years, the Bundesnachrichtendienst has - wherever possible - sought dialogue with the public, the media and the world of science, and it has also presented its work.

It was and is a matter of special concern to me that we go further down this path.

On our homepage you will therefore find extensive information concerning the mission, modus operandi and structure of the Bundesnachrichtendienst. Precisely in organisational terms, the year 2008 saw a lot of changes, ushering in an entirely new structure in 2009. I am certain that it will enable us to even better meet the great demands the policymakers are making on a modern, efficient and future-oriented  BND.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce this new Bundesnachrichtendienst to you.

Find out more about us!

Yours, Ernst Uhrlau