National Security Council (German: Nationaler Sicherheitsrat) is a committee of the German Bundeskabinett with the task to make better use of information on security issues collected by various agencies of the German government and to prepare decisions on security related matters. The National Security Council will also take over responsibilities in the field of arms export controls from the Federal Security Council. The National Security Council was created in August 2025. The creation of the council was a major campaign pledge by Friedrich Merz in the run up to the general election of February 2025. It is also a reaction to the perception that decision making within Germany's foreign and defense policy institutions is often sluggish and suffers from a lack of coordination between relevant ministries and agencies.
Current composition Office Name MemberChancellorFriedrich Merz(Chairman)Minister of FinanceVice ChancellorLars Klingbeil(Vice Chairman)Minister of Foreign AffairsJohann WadephulMinister of the InteriorAlexander DobrindtMinister of DefenseBoris PistoriusMinister for Economic Affairs and EnergyKatherina ReicheMinister of JusticeStefanie HubigMinister of Digitalization and ModernizationKarsten WildbergerMinister of International DevelopmentReem Alabali-RadovanMinister of the ChancelleryThorsten Frei Permanent guests Press Secretary Stefan Kornelius Inspector General of the Bundeswehr General Carsten Breuer President of the Federal Intelligence Service Martin Jäger President of the Federal Service for the Protection of the Constitution Sinan Selen President of the Military Counterintelligence Service Martina Rosenberg President of the Federal Bureau of Criminal Investigation Holger Münch President of the Federal Police Dieter Romann
References