Christian Freuding, Inspector of the German Army, has warned that Germany and its allies in NATO must be prepared for a potential military confrontation with Russia before the end of this decade.
Speaking at the ILA Air Show in Berlin, Freuding stated that armed forces must be ready “to fight,” noting that intelligence assessments shared across NATO indicate Russia could regain sufficient military capability to threaten Alliance territory by 2029, or potentially even earlier.
According to Freuding, this is not solely a German assessment but reflects a broader consensus among NATO’s 32 member states regarding the future development of Russian military capabilities.
Despite Russia’s significant losses in the war against Ukraine, the German general warned that Moscow could rebuild its armed forces and once again become a direct threat to NATO territory.
He emphasized that European countries are already strengthening their defenses and increasing military spending, but argued that current efforts must accelerate significantly.
“Speed is the key now,” Freuding said, stressing that traditional military procurement processes are too slow to meet today’s security challenges.
He also suggested that European militaries should adopt temporary and interim solutions to close capability gaps while new weapons systems and defense technologies are being developed and deployed.
Wider Context
Freuding’s remarks come amid a broader trend across Europe of increased defense spending, military modernization, and reassessment of security strategies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Several NATO members have announced plans to expand their armed forces, increase ammunition stockpiles, and strengthen deterrence along the Alliance’s eastern flank.
The warning reflects growing concern among European military planners that long-term security challenges from Russia could persist well beyond the war in Ukraine, requiring sustained investment in defense readiness.
