A Saturday on which the Russia threat dominated the German strategic conversation, even as the welfare state showed its own widening cracks
Air Marshal Greg Bagwell, Lt Gen Ben Hodges, Maj Gen Mick Ryan and Lt Gen Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung that NATO faces roughly a five-year window in which Russia could probe the Baltics and pull Germany in as logistics hub, with Trump's threat to withdraw 5,000 US troops and shelve the Tomahawk battalion compounding the exposure. Bundeswehr Maj Gen Wolf-Jürgen Stahl said the war has reshaped Germany's strategic culture. Health Minister Nina Warken put the long-term care deficit at €22.5 billion by 2029.
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Four retired generals tell F.A.S. NATO faces a five-year window in which Russia could attack the Baltics, with Germany pulled in as logistics hub
Air Marshal Greg Bagwell (UK), Lt Gen Ben Hodges (US), Maj Gen Mick Ryan (Australia) and Lt Gen Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart (Germany) told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung that Russia could attack NATO inside roughly five years, most likely a limited push into the Baltics designed to test Article 5 — and that Germany would be drawn in because every major NATO supply route runs through it. Bagwell put the window at "perhaps five years"; Von Sandrart said the greatest danger runs "until" 2029, not from it. The warnings land as Donald Trump moves to pull at least 5,000 US troops from Germany and shelve the Tomahawk battalion Joe Biden had pledged for this year, depleted further by the $25 billion Iran campaign.
German long-term care insurance faces 22.5 billion euro deficit by 2029, Health Minister Warken says
German Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) said the statutory long-term care insurance system faces a financing gap of up to 22.5 billion euros by 2029, larger than previously expected. Warken blamed the growing number of people classified as needing care, including many children with ADHD, and said she will present reform proposals by mid-May. Patient advocates and the Left party criticized the planned changes, accusing the government of scapegoating vulnerable groups.
Historian: Germany's business ties to Russia delayed Ukraine aid
Franziska Davies, a historian at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, said Germany's close business and political ties to Russia, including the Nord Stream 2 project, contributed to delays in providing decisive support to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion. She cited an unwillingness among German politicians to admit the harm of their pre-2022 Russia policy and a widespread notion of an "invincible Russia" as additional factors. Fear of nuclear escalation, which Davies said Russia deliberately fueled, also played a significant role.
Bundeswehr general says Russia-Ukraine war fundamentally shifts Germany's strategic culture
The Russia-Ukraine war has fundamentally changed Germany's strategic culture, according to Bundeswehr Major General Wolf-Jürgen Stahl, president of the Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS). In an interview with Ukrinform, Stahl cited Germany's first-ever decision to supply weapons to an active war zone as a concrete manifestation of this shift. He also noted that Germany formulated its first National Security Strategy in 2023, introducing the concept of 'integrated security.'
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de29Bundeswehr General: Russia Remains Greatest Security Threat to Europe
Major General Wolf-Juergen Stahl, President of the Federal Academy for Security Policy and a Bundeswehr officer, stated in an interview that Russia remains the greatest security threat to Europe. He called for Germany to increase resilience against hybrid attacks and strengthen defense capabilities to prevent open military conflict, noting that Ukraine is directly experiencing this threat. Stahl highlighted that Germany's security perceptions have shifted significantly since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with concepts like 'war readiness' (Kriegstüchtigkeit) now receiving greater attention. He also commented on the 'Zeitenwende' (turning point) declared after the invasion, noting that terms such as 'defense capability,' 'combat readiness,' and 'war readiness' are now more in focus.
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Bundeswehr General: Russia Remains Greatest Security Threat to Europe
Major General Wolf-Juergen Stahl, President of the Federal Academy for Security Policy and a Bundeswehr officer, stated in an interview that Russia remains the greatest security threat to Europe. He called for Germany to increase resilience against hybrid attacks and strengthen defense capabilities to prevent open military conflict, noting that Ukraine is directly experiencing this threat. Stahl highlighted that Germany's security perceptions have shifted significantly since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with concepts like 'war readiness' (Kriegstüchtigkeit) now receiving greater attention. He also commented on the 'Zeitenwende' (turning point) declared after the invasion, noting that terms such as 'defense capability,' 'combat readiness,' and 'war readiness' are now more in focus.
Major General Wolf-Juergen Stahl, President of the Federal Academy for Security Policy and a Bundeswehr officer, stated in an interview that Russia remains the greatest security threat to Europe. He called for Germany to increase resilience against hybrid attacks and strengthen defense capabilities to prevent open military conflict, noting that Ukraine is directly experiencing this threat. Stahl highlighted that Germany's security perceptions have shifted significantly since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with concepts like 'war readiness' (Kriegstüchtigkeit) now receiving greater attention. He also commented on the 'Zeitenwende' (turning point) declared after the invasion, noting that terms such as 'defense capability,' 'combat readiness,' and 'war readiness' are now more in focus.
de28EU lawmakers call for European defense union independent of NATO
A cross-party group of EU lawmakers issued a statement on Europe Day calling for the rapid establishment of a European defense union with independent command structures and a rapid reaction force, arguing that relying solely on the US-dominated NATO is a dangerous gamble. The initiative, backed by German MEPs including Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Michael Gahler, and Tobias Cremer, criticizes EU member states for lacking genuine resolve despite repeated political commitments to strengthen military capabilities. The statement does not address nuclear deterrence, but some members indicated it will be taken up later. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz separately affirmed NATO's strength while the US announced plans to withdraw about 5,000 of its roughly 39,000 troops stationed in Germany.
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EU lawmakers call for European defense union independent of NATO
A cross-party group of EU lawmakers issued a statement on Europe Day calling for the rapid establishment of a European defense union with independent command structures and a rapid reaction force, arguing that relying solely on the US-dominated NATO is a dangerous gamble. The initiative, backed by German MEPs including Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Michael Gahler, and Tobias Cremer, criticizes EU member states for lacking genuine resolve despite repeated political commitments to strengthen military capabilities. The statement does not address nuclear deterrence, but some members indicated it will be taken up later. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz separately affirmed NATO's strength while the US announced plans to withdraw about 5,000 of its roughly 39,000 troops stationed in Germany.
A cross-party group of EU lawmakers issued a statement on Europe Day calling for the rapid establishment of a European defense union with independent command structures and a rapid reaction force, arguing that relying solely on the US-dominated NATO is a dangerous gamble. The initiative, backed by German MEPs including Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Michael Gahler, and Tobias Cremer, criticizes EU member states for lacking genuine resolve despite repeated political commitments to strengthen military capabilities. The statement does not address nuclear deterrence, but some members indicated it will be taken up later. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz separately affirmed NATO's strength while the US announced plans to withdraw about 5,000 of its roughly 39,000 troops stationed in Germany.
de20Rheinmetall Moves to Acquire German Naval Yards Kiel
Rheinmetall has submitted a non-binding offer to acquire German Naval Yards Kiel (GNYK) to increase its naval production capacity. The acquisition is driven by anticipated major orders, including the modernization of Type 125 frigates and a bid for the F126 frigate program valued at around €12 billion. Rheinmetall also plans to collaborate with Kraken Technology Group on unmanned boat production, aiming for naval revenue of €5 billion by 2030. This move positions Rheinmetall to expand its naval capabilities and compete for large-scale defense contracts.
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Rheinmetall Moves to Acquire German Naval Yards Kiel
Rheinmetall has submitted a non-binding offer to acquire German Naval Yards Kiel (GNYK) to increase its naval production capacity. The acquisition is driven by anticipated major orders, including the modernization of Type 125 frigates and a bid for the F126 frigate program valued at around €12 billion. Rheinmetall also plans to collaborate with Kraken Technology Group on unmanned boat production, aiming for naval revenue of €5 billion by 2030. This move positions Rheinmetall to expand its naval capabilities and compete for large-scale defense contracts.
Rheinmetall has submitted a non-binding offer to acquire German Naval Yards Kiel (GNYK) to increase its naval production capacity. The acquisition is driven by anticipated major orders, including the modernization of Type 125 frigates and a bid for the F126 frigate program valued at around €12 billion. Rheinmetall also plans to collaborate with Kraken Technology Group on unmanned boat production, aiming for naval revenue of €5 billion by 2030. This move positions Rheinmetall to expand its naval capabilities and compete for large-scale defense contracts.
de15Bundestag leadership proposes halting €600 million parliament building project
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) and Vice President Omid Nouripour (Greens) have recommended stopping the second phase of the 'Luisenblock Ost' construction project on the Spree riverbank in Berlin-Mitte, aiming to save €600 million. The decision will be made by the Bundestag's Building and Space Commission in late May. Klöckner argued that with tight budgets, expensive and unnecessary expansions should not proceed. The first phase, including offices and secure meeting rooms, is set to begin soon. The savings would represent about half of the Bundestag's annual budget of €1.25 billion.
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Bundestag leadership proposes halting €600 million parliament building project
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) and Vice President Omid Nouripour (Greens) have recommended stopping the second phase of the 'Luisenblock Ost' construction project on the Spree riverbank in Berlin-Mitte, aiming to save €600 million. The decision will be made by the Bundestag's Building and Space Commission in late May. Klöckner argued that with tight budgets, expensive and unnecessary expansions should not proceed. The first phase, including offices and secure meeting rooms, is set to begin soon. The savings would represent about half of the Bundestag's annual budget of €1.25 billion.
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) and Vice President Omid Nouripour (Greens) have recommended stopping the second phase of the 'Luisenblock Ost' construction project on the Spree riverbank in Berlin-Mitte, aiming to save €600 million. The decision will be made by the Bundestag's Building and Space Commission in late May. Klöckner argued that with tight budgets, expensive and unnecessary expansions should not proceed. The first phase, including offices and secure meeting rooms, is set to begin soon. The savings would represent about half of the Bundestag's annual budget of €1.25 billion.