Germany’s security: Pistorius warns of hybrid threat from Russia

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warns of a hybrid threat to Germany from Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin’s Russia. “Putin is attacking hybrids, and Germany is particularly in focus. He knows us well, Putin knows how to put pinpricks in us,” the SPD politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group.

“We must prepare ourselves so that we can confidently confront Putin’s threat. If we ignore the threat because it makes us uncomfortable, it will not become smaller, but larger.” It’s about attacks on infrastructure and energy supplies, on activities in the North and Baltic Seas and on violations of rules in the airspace.

“In addition, there are campaigns on social media, influencing election campaigns and financing votes that, like the AfD and BSW, claim that we are not concerned with our own protection, but that we are heading towards a war with Russia,” said Pistorius. This is all part of Putin’s strategy to unsettle and divide our society. “We have to do everything we can to prevent Putin’s strategy from working.”

Where does Germany stand militarily?

When asked whether Germany was where it should be militarily, the Defense Minister replied: “We are on the right track.” This year alone, 97 major projects worth 58 billion euros were launched. This has once again exceeded last year’s record.

But the truth is also: “We have given a lot of material to Ukraine. In addition, the industry needs time to ramp up production capacity and produce weapons and ammunition.” Pistorius calculated that a Leopard tank would have a delivery time of up to two and a half years, while frigates and submarines would take six to eight years. “It’s clear from the delivery times alone: ​​It’s impossible for us to close the gaps that have opened up over the past 30 years in one election period.”