NATO urges Germany to deploy 40,000 troops amid rising threat from Russia – Reuters
Illustrative photo: NATO seeks to involve more German troops in the defense of the Alliance (Getty Images)
The North Atlantic Alliance has asked Germany to provide seven more brigades, around 40,000 troops, to strengthen NATO's defense, Reuters reports.
According to the outlet’s sources, the Alliance plans to significantly increase its military capability requirements amid the growing threat from Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The total number of brigades that member states will be required to provide is expected to rise to 120–130, 50% more than the current target of 80 brigades. However, the exact figures remain classified.
At present, Germany has eight brigades, and a ninth is being formed for deployment in Lithuania by 2027. In 2021, the country agreed to provide NATO with 10 brigades by 2030. Supplying an additional 40,000 troops will pose a serious challenge for Berlin, as the Bundeswehr has not yet met its 2018 goal of 203,000 active personnel and is currently short by about 20,000.
During the Cold War, Germany had 500,000 active troops and 800,000 reservists. Today, it remains — alongside Poland — a key rapid response force on NATO’s eastern flank.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, NATO countries have significantly increased their defense spending. At the summit in The Hague next month, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is expected to urge leaders to double the current defense spending benchmark from 2% of GDP to 5%, with 3.5% allocated to defense and 1.5% to security needs.
Germany has already eased its debt rules, enabling increased defense spending, and has endorsed Rutte’s proposed 5% target.
German Defense Minister Carsten Breuer has ordered the armed forces to reach full staffing by 2029 — the year by which NATO estimates Russia could restore its military capability to a level that would allow it to launch an attack on Alliance countries.
German troops in Lithuania
Germany has recently begun deploying its tank brigade to Lithuania, strengthening NATO's eastern flank amid the growing threat from Russia. European allies have taken unprecedented steps to deter Moscow’s aggressive policies.
Currently, around 400 German troops are stationed in Lithuania. By the end of the year, the German government plans to increase this number to 500.
According to a spokesperson for the ministry, German soldiers have already started initial training and exercises on site, and these activities are expected to be significantly intensified in the coming months.
Putin prepares for war with NATO
A previous report by the Bundeswehr indicated that Russia is preparing for a possible large-scale war with NATO. It is believed that Vladimir Putin intends to pursue his goals through the use of force. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated that an attack by Russia could occur within a few years, and that Lithuania has about four to five years to prepare.
In early May, it was revealed that Russia had stepped up its surveillance of NATO activities in the Baltic Sea and was engaging in shows of force and provocations.
