Alliance defense: Breuer warns: Russia is directing its army towards the West

The Inspector General of the German Armed Forces, Carsten Breuer, sees Russia’s military build-up as a growing danger. “We are observing that the Russian army is being directed towards the West,” Breuer told the “Sächsische Zeitung”.

In five to eight years, Moscow’s armed forces will be so equipped in terms of material and personnel that an attack on NATO territory would be possible. He cited his own analyses, information from intelligence services and allied forces, and statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the basis for his assessments.

Up to 1,500 Russian tanks per year

“The Russian army is increasing its tank base by 1,000 to 1,500 tanks every year. The five largest European NATO member states have just half of that,” said Breuer. The German army has around 300 battle tanks. Breuer said: “If this capability is accompanied by the intention that can be read off from Putin’s speeches, that should alarm us. My job is to think about a worst-case scenario like this. For the German army, that means: we have to be prepared for this possibility in five years. That is the only way we can deter.” However, the new threat situation has not yet reached everyone.

Breuer: Trump will recognize the value of NATO

Germany’s highest-ranking soldier made it clear in the conversation that he sees no signs of the US turning its back on Europe militarily and that he assumes that Donald Trump will know the value of NATO if he is re-elected as US president. “Trump has brutally held up a mirror to us Europeans and made it clear that we must strengthen the European pillar of the alliance and take on a more independent role from the USA. Everyone understood that at the latest with the Russian war of aggression,” said Breuer. Compared to 2020, it is clear that now it is no longer just two or three NATO states that are meeting the agreed two percent target, but more than 20. “That should be a good ‘deal’ for Trump too. I am more optimistic than others that with some distance from the election campaign, the great added value of the alliance will become clearer to him too.”

In Ukraine, the Inspector General does not expect any significant changes in the front lines for the time being, but the country will remain dependent on support. “We will not see any large-scale movements on the Ukrainian battlefield in the foreseeable future. The course and fortification of the front make this largely impossible,” said Breuer. And: “Small, slow operations are conceivable, but large-scale offensives are difficult. A concentration of troops would be immediately recognized and lead to countermeasures.”