NATO Prepares to Confront Russia; Germany Needs 75,000 Additional Troops

Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine has reported that the NATO alliance is preparing to confront Russia. The German Ministry of Defense believes it needs an additional 75,000 troops to fulfill its NATO commitments. A senior military official told Reuters that this figure could be higher, as Germany may become a main area and logistical center for a conflict with Russia in the future.

The request for more soldiers could create another headache for the German government, as Russia’s defense spending has increased since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and there are still issues with financing it. German officials have discussed bringing back some form of military service.

NATO and German national military planners have identified shortages in manpower, weapons and other equipment needed to defend against a potential Russian attack. Senior German military officials estimate that a Russian attack could occur as early as 2029.