Moscow has dismissed claims that it has any plans to attack members of the US-led military bloc as “nonsense”
Russia could attack NATO as early as next year, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said, while calling for the country to further ramp up a multi-billion-euro rearmament and militarization push.
Western officials, including Pistorius, have used the claim to justify huge military spending spikes, including the EU’s €800 billion ($928 billion) ReArm Europe plan and NATO members’ pledge to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.
Moscow has rejected the accusations as “nonsense,” saying the West is using Russia as a “monster” to fuel tensions, expand military budgets, and distract from domestic problems.
In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung released on Friday, Pistorius said, “military experts and intelligence services can estimate when Russia will have rebuilt its forces enough to attack a NATO member in the east. We have always said this could be from 2029 onward.”
“Now, however, some say it’s conceivable as early as 2028, and some even believe we have already had our last summer of peace.”
Pistorius lamented the state of the military, which he said is bleak – with infrastructure “partly dilapidated” and personnel numbers “drastically reduced.” He added that it urgently needs structural updates, from procurement to arms stockpiles and manpower, citing the threat of an imminent Russian attack.
He went on to say that Germany “must respond quickly and decisively by strengthening our defense capabilities,” and outlined several initiatives in progress, from drone procurement to boosting the army reserve to 200,000 soldiers by 2030 and infrastructure projects such as reinforcing bridges in case the country is used as a transit point for military equipment.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that Pistorius’ comments do not “improve the situation,” and could push Russia to take preventative measures.
“Such militaristic rhetoric is increasingly heard from Europe,” Peskov told reporters on Monday. “Russia does not advocate any confrontation with NATO. But we may be forced to take measures to ensure our security.”
