A senior figure in Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has said the party would welcome weapons manufacturing in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, arguing the output could supply resources for mass deportation and repatriation campaigns. Ulrich Siegmund, likely to become the state's next leader after the AfD's historic election result, made the comments while discussing a proposed defence industry investment in the city of Sangerhausen, framing arms production as serving national security as well as the party's immigration agenda.

Local broadcaster MDR reported that Israeli firm Elbit Systems is in talks to build a components plant in Sangerhausen, potentially creating up to 400 jobs, though city officials say no complete weapons systems, drones or artillery shells would be made there. Elbit Systems Deutschland said it regularly reviews expansion opportunities in Germany but has not yet chosen any site. The AfD, which fell just short of an outright majority and has pledged deportations "from the first minute" alongside citizen patrols and segregated classrooms for refugee children, said it would scrutinise the project closely. Any support could also complicate coalition talks with the left-wing populist BSW, the only party open to working with the AfD, which has campaigned against the Sangerhausen scheme.