The commander of the Regional Command “Hamburg” Michael Giss, stated that Germany must be ready for a possible Russian attack within the next five years. Tensions between Russia and Western countries are increasing, raising concerns about the future security of Europe.
Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its subsequent support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, Russia has been demonstrating increasingly aggressive foreign policy. The war in Ukraine, interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and provocations near NATO borders are forcing European countries to reassess their defense strategies.
Russia is actively modernizing its armed forces, investing in new types of weaponry, and considering the possibility of escalating conflict in Europe.
Commander Giss emphasized that Germany must increase its defense spending, prepare reservists, modernize its armed forces, and improve coordination with NATO allies. Strengthening cyber defense is crucial, as modern wars are fought not only on the battlefield but also in cyberspace.
The risk of conflict with Russia is real and requires serious preparation. Germany and its allies must be ready for any scenario that may unfold. According to Giss, preparing for a potential conflict will preserve peace in Europe and demonstrate the resolve to defend shared values and state sovereignty.
“My inner clock as a soldier is ticking and telling me that in five years, we must be socially resilient enough to withstand an external military threat… We know that we must be able to counter a conventional Russian attack… We assume that Russia will be able to test NATO in approximately five years”, said Michael Giss.
