German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that Russia’s hacking of the emails of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party and other sensitive government and industrial targets would have consequences during a visit to Australia focused on security policy.

“This is absolutely intolerable and unacceptable and will have consequences,” Baerbock said at a news conference in the Australian city of Adelaide without specifying what the consequences might be. She attributed the hacking to a unit of Russia’s GRU military intelligence unit.

NATO has warned Germany of an intensified Russian spy network

In particular, Russian agents are expected to prepare for sabotage, violent attacks, and cyberattacks. The letter notes that the allies are "extremely concerned" about Russia's activity on NATO territory. pic.twitter.com/djLMUskNFq

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 5, 2024

Baerbock is visiting Australia, New Zealand and Fiji with the trip focusing on security policy as China pushes for influence in the Pacific region. “The defense cooperation between Germany and Australia is close and we would like to deepen it further and together expand it because we are in a situation where we face similar threats,” said Baerbock who is the first German foreign minister to visit Australia in 13 years.

Discussions between Baerbock and Australia counterpart Penny Wong centered on the conflict in Gaza. “I think we all understand that the only path out of this cycle of violence that we see in the Middle East at such great cost is one that ultimately ensures a two-state solution,” Wong said.

The hacking revelations have further strained relations between Russia and Germany which were already tense with Germany providing military support to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.