Germany's Top General Warns Russia Could Pose Direct Military Challenge to NATO by 2029
Germany's top military commander, Gen. Carsten Breuer, warned Friday that Russia is rapidly expanding its armed forces and could be capable of waging a large-scale war against the West by 2029. Speaking at a German Catholic gathering in Wurzburg, Breuer said intelligence reports show Moscow is establishing new garrisons and building a weapons arsenal for a major conflict. He urged NATO allies to boost their military capabilities to deter any potential attack.
Germany's top military commander, Gen. Carsten Breuer, warned on May 15, 2026, that Russia is rapidly expanding its armed forces and could be capable of waging a large-scale war against the West by 2029.
Speaking at a German Catholic gathering in Wurzburg, Breuer said intelligence reports indicate Russia is establishing new garrisons and building a weapons arsenal that suggests Moscow wants to be capable of waging a major war against the West by 2029. "We can see that Russia is preparing itself to be capable of waging a large-scale war against the West," Breuer said.
"The threat is real, and it is very close," Breuer said. "As a soldier, I'm looking at the worst-case scenario and saying that by 2029, we have to be ready. We have to be ready to deter Russia, so it never even thinks about it."
Breuer urged NATO allies to boost their military capabilities to counter the growing threat. His remarks follow recent warnings from retired generals and other Bundeswehr officials who have identified Russia as the greatest security threat to Europe and described the war in Ukraine as a fundamental shift in Germany's strategic culture.