Keynote Speech the Berlin Biosecurity Dialogue

Susanne Riegraf, Deputy of the Federal Government Commissioner for Disarmament and Arms Control, delivered a keynote speech at the Berlin Biosecurity Dialogue on June 19, 2025. She highlighted the increasing risk of biological weapons due to the convergence of biotechnology, AI, and quantum computing, noting that AI-modified proteins can evade conventional detection methods. Riegraf discussed the limitations of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which lacks a verification regime, and the need for NATO allies to enhance collective biodefense and early-warning systems. She also detailed Germany's interagency coordination challenges and its international support efforts through the German Biosecurity Programme and the Global Health Protection Programme.

• Rapid technological convergence in life sciences, biotechnology, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing has significantly lowered the barrier to the development and production of biological weapons.
• AI-modified proteins can be designed to retain their biological function while having as little as ten percent sequence similarity to the original, allowing them to bypass standard detection tools like PCR and antibody-antigen tests.
• The 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) is described as a weak treaty because it lacks both a dedicated treaty organisation and a verification regime, though it has expanded to 189 States Parties.
• Russia is accused of conducting a 'bioweapons slander' campaign against the U.S. and Ukraine to justify its aggression, and of using chemical weapons such as chloropicrin and riot control agents on the battlefield in Ukraine.
• NATO's February 2024 Strategy on Biotechnology and Human Enhancement Technologies addresses dual-use risks in synthetic biology and bio-manufacturing, as well as threats from state actors, specifically China and Russia.
• Germany employs a complex whole-of-government approach to biosecurity involving twelve Federal Ministries, including Health, Interior, Defence, and Foreign Affairs, which creates significant coordination challenges.
• Germany provides international biosecurity assistance through the German Biosecurity Programme, which has implemented projects in 28 countries, and the GIBACHT fellowship programme, which has trained 139 professionals from 37 countries.

APA

Riegraf, S. (2025). Keynote Speech the Berlin Biosecurity Dialogue. The Council on Strategic Risks. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/07/28/keynote-speech-the-berlin-biosecurity-dialogue/

Chicago

Riegraf, Susanne. Keynote Speech the Berlin Biosecurity Dialogue. The Council on Strategic Risks, 2025. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/07/28/keynote-speech-the-berlin-biosecurity-dialogue/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Riegraf |first1=Susanne |title=Keynote Speech the Berlin Biosecurity Dialogue |publisher=The Council on Strategic Risks |date=28 July 2025 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/07/28/keynote-speech-the-berlin-biosecurity-dialogue/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{riegraf2025keynote, author = {Riegraf, Susanne}, title = {{Keynote Speech the Berlin Biosecurity Dialogue}}, publisher = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2025/07/28/keynote-speech-the-berlin-biosecurity-dialogue/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }