Germany’s defense minister: Europe faces a long-term threat

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has warned that Europe is facing a long-term threat.

Tagesschau quoted Pistorius as saying this at a Friedrich Ebert Foundation event in Arnsberg. The German minister emphasized that Russia’s war against Ukraine is no longer a regional one.

Putin has switched completely to a war economy – Pistorius

According to the German defense minister, Russian president Vladimir Putin “has long since switched completely to a war economy.”

“Russia produces as many weapons and ammunition in three months as the entire European Union does in a year,” Pistorius emphasized.

He also noted that in a speech in late October, Putin spoke of “a serious, irreconcilable struggle for a new world order.”

Pistorius said that Putin already considers himself a winner in the war against Ukrainians. At the same time, a hybrid war using disinformation and fake news is in full swing, the German minister warned.

“Our security is a fragile asset,” Pistorius said. Germany needs to accelerate the pace and invest more in its combat capabilities, the defense minister concluded.

Germany is ready to become key pillar of deterring Russian aggression in Europe – Pistorius

Pistorius said in September that Germany was ready to become the main pillar of deterring Russian aggression in Europe. The German defense minister said this during a speech in Vilnius, as quoted by N-TV.

Pistorius confirmed Germany’s plans to deploy a full-fledged brigade in Lithuania by 2027. Specifically, this year will see the deployment of soldiers.

He emphasized that Germany is aware of its responsibility as “a central logistics hub in Europe, ensuring that troops can move quickly from the Atlantic to the eastern flank if necessary.”

The German defense minister emphasized that Ukraine is only the beginning for Russia.

“Russia is trying to undermine our unity, that of the European Union and NATO, using hybrid methods. Putin’s real enemy is our free and independent, democratic way of life,” Boris Pistorius said.

The minister added that in 2014, after Russia’s invasion of Crimea, other countries “instead of responding to this call, pressed the ‘put off the alarm’ button.”

At the same time, Germany, in particular Chancellor Olaf Scholz, still refuses to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles to strike military targets inside Russia. The United States recently authorized Ukraine to use Western missiles to strike military facilities inside Russia. 

Putin and Kremlin officials have threatened to retaliate and escalate the conflict. Since then, the Ukrainian military has successfully struck military targets in Russia using Storm Shadows and ATACMS missiles.