Rheinmetall CEO Threatened, Sparking NATO Concerns Over Sabotage

Berlin (Eurotoday) – NATO said on January 28, 2025, that acts of sabotage executed across the military coalition over the past years included threats to plan the killing of industry leaders such as the chief of German arms maker Rheinmetall.

Addressing the European Parliament, NATO’s deputy assistant Secretary-General for innovation, hybrid and cyber, James Appathurai, verified the threat against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger that had so far only been noted by the media.

What acts of sabotage has NATO identified recently?

He stated the acts of sabotage comprised the

“derailment of trains, acts of arson, attacks on politicians’ property, threats to plot to assassinate industry leaders like, publicly, the head of Rheinmetall but there were other plots as well.”

Appathurai further stated the West had in the past thrived in preventing Russia from perpetrating acts of sabotage by putting red lines at the highest level, as had been the issue when incendiary devices fated for DHL flights were caught in a German storehouse.

How does NATO address threats?

“(Former U.S.) President (Joe) Biden called (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin (…) and said: This is too much. And it stopped,”

He stated.

“They can be deterred if you identify what your red lines are amongst yourselves and then communicate that effectively, and that doesn’t necessarily mean publicly.”

NATO’s deputy assistant Secretary-General stated the West would not tolerate as normal the current level of threats, which NATO represents as at a record high, and that there was a straightforward recognition amongst partners “that we need to be more robust” in preventing repeated happenings in the Baltic Sea.

What role does attribution play in NATO’s countermeasures?

Moreover, talking about the problem of attribution, Appathurai indicated NATO should become more powerful and not necessarily stay for the end of a police inquiry that might go on for six or seven months before taking steps.

“In our view, attribution is important, but it cannot be an obstacle to action,”

He stressed.

“$10 trillion worth of economic activity go through undersea cables, four trillion of which goes across the Atlantic,”

Appathurai cautioned.

“If that is cut off, there is major economic damage.”