Germany Warns of Russian Threat, Calls for Nationwide Defence Preparedness

Germany’s top military leadership has called for the country to strengthen its national defence preparedness amid growing concerns over Russia’s military capabilities and the possibility of a future confrontation between Russia and NATO.

Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, General Carsten Breuer, said Germany must prepare its armed forces, industry and civilian institutions to respond collectively to modern security threats.

Speaking at the IISS Prague Defence Summit, Breuer stressed that military power alone would not be sufficient to deal with the range of challenges facing Germany, particularly hybrid threats.

He argued that civilian society and industry must form part of the country’s overall defence preparedness, warning that modern conflicts increasingly extend beyond conventional military operations.

Bundeswehr Given 2029 Readiness Target

Breuer has previously directed the Bundeswehr to achieve full operational readiness by 2029, reflecting German and wider NATO assessments that Russia could potentially rebuild its military capabilities sufficiently to pose a major threat to NATO territory by the end of the decade.

The readiness programme prioritises areas including air defence, long-range precision capabilities, electronic warfare and ammunition stocks.

German officials have stressed that the 2029 timeframe is a planning benchmark rather than a prediction that Russia will necessarily launch an attack that year.

Earlier this year, German Army Inspector Lieutenant General Christian Freuding said the 2029 assessment was based on a broader NATO intelligence assessment and warned that the possibility could not simply be limited to that year.

Germany Expands Defence Preparedness

Germany’s first comprehensive military strategy, published in April 2026, identifies Russia as the country’s principal security threat and places greater emphasis on preparing for both conventional and hybrid forms of conflict.

The strategy envisages a substantial expansion of Germany’s conventional military capabilities and a greater defence role within Europe.

Breuer has also urged German authorities to draw lessons from the war in Ukraine, particularly the rapid evolution of military technology and tactics.

He said Russia has demonstrated an ability to adapt its methods and develop approaches aimed at exploiting weaknesses in its opponents.

Russia Rejects Claims of Planned NATO Attack

Moscow has repeatedly rejected Western assessments that Russia intends to attack NATO members.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied that Moscow has plans to attack NATO territory, while German and other NATO officials have continued to base their defence planning on assessments of Russia’s potential future military capabilities.

The disagreement has contributed to increased defence spending and military preparedness across several European NATO countries.

Germany’s latest preparations therefore reflect a broader European effort to strengthen deterrence and ensure that its military and civilian infrastructure can respond to a range of security scenarios.