Federal Defence Minister of Germany, Boris Pistorius, has identified Russia as the biggest threat to Germany’s security and believes it will continue to be a significant concern in the foreseeable future.
During a speech in the Bundestag, he warned of Russia’s increasing military threat, stating, “Russia has completely switched to a war economy and supplies its army with between 1,000 and 1,500 tanks every year.” He pointed out that this number exceeds the combined stock of tanks held by the five largest European countries.
Pistorius emphasised that it is certain that “Russia is the greatest threat to Germany’s security and will remain so for the foreseeable future.”
He also noted that Russia has been expanding its presence in the Baltic Sea, observing a significant rise in both Russian naval and civilian vessels in the area, accompanied by occasional appearances from Chinese vessels.
In an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, Pistorius explained that this underscores the Baltic Sea’s strategic importance for many countries, particularly Russia and China, especially in circumventing sanctions.
Furthermore, Minister Pistorius highlighted Russia’s repeated provocations, which he likened to tactics from the Cold War era.
“We have experienced several incidents in the Baltic Sea that escalated to warning shots being fired into the air and water,” he said.
