Due to potential threats from Russia, the Inspector General of the German Army (Bundeswehr), Carsten Breuer, is calling for the rapid development of missile defense.
“We have between five to eight years. In that period, we must establish missile defense. There are no alternatives,” Breuer told German media outlets on Friday.
“We see that Russia will be capable of waging war against NATO states within five to eight years. By then, we in Germany must be able to repel such an attack,” emphasized Breuer, adding that a solution within NATO is essential.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has no secrets about his intentions towards the West, stated the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr.
“This does not necessarily mean that such an attack must occur within five to eight years. But it is possible. As a soldier, I must be prepared for the worst-case scenario, which means we must be able to defend ourselves within five years,” Breuer noted.
According to him, the attack could be comprehensive, ranging from cyberspace to drones to missile strikes.
Breuer opposed the idea of freezing the conflict in Ukraine, as proposed by a prominent politician from the Social Democratic Party, Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“Freezing the conflict requires acceptance from both sides. There are hardly any frozen conflicts in the world that have not reignited. The current military situation in Ukraine suggests that freezing the conflict does not seem feasible or desirable,” explained Breuer.
To strengthen the Bundeswehr, the government established a special fund worth 100 billion euros shortly after the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Breuer stated that 80 percent of the funds have been allocated, but not everything ordered is immediately available.
“We’re going through the sieve right now. Most of the material has been ordered, but it has not yet reached the troops to the extent I would like,” he said.
For Breuer, the 100 billion euros are just “initial funding.” The defense budget must remain permanently at two percent of GDP, he concluded.
This is a share that NATO also requires from its member states, N1 writes.
E.Dz.
