“The fact is that Peter Thiel openly rejects our democracy. We do not know how large his influence at Stark is. And even worse: The federal government cannot explain it,” Greens lawmaker Jeanne Dillschneider told POLITICO. “We need drones, no one disputes that. But the question of how large Thiel’s influence is must be clarified before we procure them.”
The Thiel Foundation, a private foundation set up by Peter Thiel and contacted by POLITICO in an effort to seek a response, did not respond to emailed requests for comment.
The confidential Stark contract, seen by POLITICO, is structured as a seven-year framework agreement with an initial fixed order worth €268.6 million. If all optional orders are exercised, the total value could rise to roughly €2.86 billion.
The agreement covers the serial production of “deployment sets,” each consisting of 20 loitering munitions, a ground control station, spare parts and software and training packages. It would be one of Germany’s first purchases of loitering drones, which have become a low-cost weapon of choice in Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion.
It’s unclear what Thiel’s share in the company is. The German-born investor, who is also an American citizen, is known for his support for President Donald Trump and for bankrolling conservative candidates such as Vice President JD Vance, aligning himself with the populist wing of the Republican party.
That has raised concerns among German lawmakers, affecting the outlook for parliamentary approval of the deal.
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