German soldiers, photo: Daniel Lob / AFP
The head of the Bundeswehr, General Carsten Breuer, said that Germany should complete rearmament by 2029, as this is when Russia could reach readiness for a large-scale attack on a NATO member state. This was reported by Welt am Sonntag.
According to the general, Russia is building up its military power at a frantic pace: the size of the Russian army will increase to 1.5 million people next year, and the annual production or modernisation of tanks will reach 1,500 units – far more than is needed for the current operations in Ukraine.
“We see a clear threat from Russia,” Breuer said.
He also stated that Putin is seeking to weaken and destroy NATO and discredit the Western model of society.
Despite the change of power in the United States, the general is convinced of the reliability of American allies:
“I am absolutely confident that the United States remains committed to NATO. There is more coordination between Allied Chiefs of Defence than ever before.”
In the context of the urgent modernisation of the army, Breuer added that, if necessary, Germany would purchase equipment from the United States if European markets could not provide the required volume.
“2029 is the deadline by which we must be fully prepared for war,” he concluded.
