Germany's hard-right AfD party wants arms factory in their state that can provide 'appropriate resources' to deport immigrants

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By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 09:45 BST, 12 September 2026 | Updated: 09:49 BST, 12 September 2026

Germany's hard-right AfD party wants a weapons producer to operate in one of its states to provide resources for its planned deportation campaigns.

The likely leader of the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, indicated at a press conference on Thursday that the AfD was not opposed to arms ​production for domestic purposes when asked about the future of a planned defence industry investment in the city of Sangerhausen.

'We do not condemn the ⁠production of military equipment across the board, because we will naturally need the appropriate resources ​for future repatriation and deportation campaigns,' he said.

'This is also in the interest of internal security, our ​own stability, and national defence,' he added.

Local public broadcaster MDR has reported that Israel's Elbit Systems is in talks to build a plant there to manufacture components for other German companies. 

City officials say no complete weapons ​systems, drones or artillery shells would be produced at the site, which could create up to ​400 jobs.

Elbit Systems Deutschland told Reuters on Friday that it continuously evaluates opportunities for further expansion in Germany, but ‌no ⁠locations have yet been selected for future expansion.

'As a long-standing partner, the company operates across several locations in Germany, employs hundreds of German employees and continues to strengthen its local industrial presence,' it said.

The likely leader of the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund (pictured) said he would want his government to use weapons for mass deporations

The anti-immigration AfD, which is seeking to form a state government after winning a ​historic election victory just short ​of an outright ⁠majority, has pledged deportations 'from the first minute', citizen patrols and separate classrooms for refugee children.

Siegmund said the party was monitoring developments in Sangerhausen.

'We want to take ​a close look at exactly what is being produced and under what ​conditions, and ⁠whether this runs the risk of involving us in foreign conflicts,' he said.

Any backing for the project could complicate talks with the left-wing populist BSW, the only party not to rule out cooperation with ⁠the AfD.

The ​BSW, which, like the AfD, opposes German military support for ​Ukraine, has campaigned against the Sangerhausen project, rejecting economic arguments for attracting foreign defence manufacturers.