Germany and Japan Begin Re-activating Intelligence Agencies—Axis Powers Reconnected?
Japan: Establishing Postwar's First Centralized Intelligence Body The Japanese Diet passed legislation on May 27, 2026, establishing the "National Intelligence Council" and the "National Intelligence Agency." Both institutions officially launched on July 31, 2026. The system centers on the National Intelligence Council—a cabinet-level decision-making body chaired by the Prime Minister—with the National Intelligence Agency serving as the operational arm responsible for coordinating intelligence collection, analysis across government departments, and interagency collaboration, reporting directly to the Prime Minister.
This centralized structure has drawn comparisons from multiple media outlets and experts to the wartime "Tokko" (Special Higher Police), citing its highly concentrated authority and dual functions of internal surveillance and external intelligence gathering, resembling pre-war institutional frameworks. Japan’s postwar policy long emphasized a fragmented intelligence architecture as a check on power; this reform effectively dismantles that historical balance.
Germany: Pushing Intelligence Reform, Granting Proactive Intervention Authority On August 12, 2026, Germany’s Federal Cabinet approved the Intelligence Services Reform Bill, described by officials as a "historic turning point" for Germany’s intelligence community. The core of the reform grants intelligence agencies powers they previously lacked—“proactive intervention”—transforming them from passive monitoring and analysis entities into organizations capable of taking direct action, while also expanding capabilities in digital surveillance.
Opposition figures and segments of public discourse have characterized the move as “rebuilding Germany’s secret police” and evoking memories of the Gestapo. However, it should be noted that the reform modifies the legal framework governing existing agencies such as the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), not a literal resurrection of the Nazi-era Gestapo institution.
The coordination between Germany and Japan has intensified scrutiny. In July 2026, the head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) visited Tokyo to discuss intelligence sharing and institutional development with Japanese counterparts. The deepening cooperation in intelligence matters has sparked concerns and warnings about a potential revival of an alliance reminiscent of the Axis powers.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1881918629078154/
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