Russia will be ready to “invade a Nato partner” by 2029, a German army chief has warned.
Lieutenant General Christian Freuding said all 32 Nato members agree that Vladimir Putin could have the capability to launch a large-scale assault on allied territory before the end of the decade.
In an interview with Politico, he said “speed is of the essence” as he urged German leaders to increase investment in the country’s military.
It comes amid a string of warnings from Europe’s defence chiefs, including the UK’s chief of defence staff.
In a speech last week, Sir Richard Knighton said Britain faces its “most dangerous period” in decades and that Russia is “definitely raising the stakes and risks crossing a line”.
Defence secretary John Healey and defence minister Al Carns resigned on Thursday over the government’s proposed Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which they criticised as failing to learn lessons from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Intelligence suggests Russia is ramping up its military operations near Nato borders including Finland, Norway, and the Baltic states, according to top Nordic spy chiefs.
Experts fear Moscow will make efforts to attack Nato states within the next one to three years as European powers gradually rebuild their war chests. The Kremlin has previously denied intentions to launch attacks on Nato members.
In May, Nato said it would significantly bolster its eastern flank and establish a second command based in Muenster, western Germany.
A second corps dedicated to Baltic defence, an area seen to be particularly at risk of attack, would allow Nato to bring in “mass at speed”, as described by one anonymous military official.
Despite these warnings, the US general who commands Nato has insisted Russia is “not looking for a conflict” as Washington plans to wind down its contributions to the bloc.
Speaking on a panel in Berlin on Thursday, General Alexus G Grynkewich said: “I’ve watched the intelligence very closely.
“Russia is not looking for a conflict … They do understand the term ‘defensive alliance’, and they do understand that we have a number of asymmetric advantages.”
The military chief insisted Russia would not succeed in any attack, telling the panel: “Russia understands that, should they try something in the Baltic states, they won’t succeed. Because they know they won’t succeed, they won’t take the risk on something like that.”
He added: “When people ask me, ‘Are you ready to fight tonight?’ Absolutely.”
His remarks follow criticism from US president Donald Trump, who has accused other Nato members of not contributing their fair share militarily and financially.
