Germany Top General Warns Country Must Prepare for Defense Amid Rising Russian Threats

Germany must mobilize its entire society, industry, and armed forces to prepare for national defense and the potential risk of war, according to Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Carsten Breuer, Bild reports on September 17.

Speaking at the IISS Prague Defense Summit, Germany's highest-ranking military officer emphasized that military strength and modern technology alone cannot protect the country against current security challenges.

Breuer noted that rapid technological advances cause military tactics to quickly become outdated. Because of this, according to Bild, he stated that Germany needs to closely study the combat experiences gained during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"Russia learns. They copy and adapt, introducing innovations aimed at our strengths and bypassing them. Technology should not determine what we do. We must determine what we do with technology," the general stated.

He stressed that standing up to hybrid threats requires a broader response beyond the capabilities of the armed forces.

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Addressing the German people, Breuer said, "Without you, we soldiers are doomed to fail. But failure is not an option. Because that would mean a fatal threat to our societies as we know them. We are all in the same boat."

Breuer had previously ordered the Bundeswehr to achieve full operational capability by 2029 to counter a potential Russian attack on NATO territory.

Funded through an easing of Germany’s constitutional debt brake, the directive prioritizes expanding air defenses, long-range precision strike capabilities, electronic warfare, and ammunition stockpiles following warnings that Russia could rebuild its forces to launch large-scale aggression by 2029.

Since the beginning of 2026, German authorities have recorded 165 suspected sabotage cases and 747 incidents involving suspicious drones near military sites and critical infrastructure.

Germany formally blamed Russia for the Leipzig/Halle Airport incident, where an explosive-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian An-124 transport aircraft, and later announced the closure of Russia’s consulate general in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin.

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