German Lawmakers to Attend BRICS Summit in Russia for First Time
Germany’s political debate has reignited after two lawmakers from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party announced plans to attend next week’s BRICS summit in the Russian city of Sochi — an event that will, for the first time, feature European politicians among its guests.
Key Takeaways:
- Two AfD MPs plan to attend the BRICS summit in Russia’s Sochi.
- German officials fear possible leaks of sensitive information.
- AfD defends the visit as a move toward dialogue, not alignment.
The visit comes as Germany’s government and intelligence agencies intensify scrutiny of AfD’s foreign ties. Party members have long faced accusations of cultivating close relations with Moscow, a charge AfD leaders have consistently rejected.
Still, the timing of the trip — amid an ongoing war in Ukraine and a domestic investigation into alleged leaks of military information — has turned what might once have been a diplomatic curiosity into a political flashpoint.
Rising Alarm in Berlin
News of the upcoming visit has triggered outrage among members of Germany’s governing parties. Senior figures from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) warned that AfD’s actions risk undermining the country’s official foreign policy.
Conservative lawmaker Thomas Roewekamp accused the MPs of potentially exposing sensitive data to foreign actors, warning that “information of military or strategic value could easily fall into the wrong hands.” He added that the pair should face questioning in parliament once they return to Berlin.
Security concerns have only grown since Germany’s domestic intelligence service, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), labeled parts of AfD as extremist and placed several factions under surveillance.
AfD Defends the Visit
Despite the backlash, the MPs — including Rainer Rothfuss, who sits on the Bundestag’s foreign affairs committee — insist their participation at the Sochi event is part of a broader push for dialogue and de-escalation.
Rothfuss described the mission as a “personal commitment” to keeping communication open with Russia and preventing the current conflict from spreading across NATO borders. AfD officials argue that the trip is not an endorsement of Moscow’s policies but an attempt to represent an alternative voice in global diplomacy.
The BRICS summit, they say, offers a chance to discuss cooperation between Europe and emerging economies, especially in areas like trade, energy, and infrastructure.
A Symbolic Win for Moscow
For Russia, the attendance of European politicians — particularly from a major EU nation — is likely to be seen as a symbolic victory. With the West’s diplomatic doors largely closed since the start of the Ukraine invasion, Moscow has increasingly used BRICS as a platform to project influence and showcase its “multipolar world” vision.
Hosting lawmakers from Germany could help Russia signal that cracks exist in Europe’s political unity. Analysts suggest the Kremlin will seize on the visit as proof that segments of the continent’s right-wing movements are willing to engage despite sanctions and isolation.
Germany’s Divided Foreign Policy Landscape
AfD’s participation in Sochi reflects a broader divide in German politics. While mainstream parties have championed unwavering support for Ukraine, AfD leaders have questioned the effectiveness of sanctions and argued that dialogue with Russia remains essential to long-term peace.
Critics say this approach plays into Moscow’s strategy of exploiting internal divisions within Europe. Supporters counter that refusing communication only deepens hostility.
More details about the lawmakers’ meetings and the summit’s agenda are expected following its conclusion next week, but the controversy has already set the tone in Berlin: Germany’s political establishment is once again forced to confront how far dissenting voices should go in challenging the country’s official stance on Russia.
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