Germany's army chief warns of 2029 Russia attack readiness

Freuding clarified that the 2029 timeline is based on NATO-agreed intelligence, not a German-specific projection. He cautioned that Russia might accelerate its plans despite significant losses in the ongoing war in Ukraine. European defense officials have also expressed concerns that Russia could rebuild its military strength sufficiently in the coming years to directly threaten NATO territory.

The general emphasized the urgency of closing gaps in military readiness, production, and capability, with 2029 serving as a benchmark for this preparedness. He highlighted that Germany has taken steps to accelerate weapons procurement and increase defense industry capacity but stressed that reliance solely on long-term programs is insufficient. Freuding called for "intermediate solutions" to bridge current gaps and stressed the importance of improving daily capabilities for a "fight tonight" scenario, aligning with the Bundeswehr's shift towards a high-readiness force aimed at deterring Russian aggression.