Germany’s military needs 100,000 more soldiers to meet NATO’s new defense requirements, as European allies scramble to reinforce the alliance’s eastern flank following a surge in Russian drone activity.
In a confidential letter dated September 2 and seen by Reuters, German Army Chief Alfons Mais warned Chief of Defense Staff Carsten Breuer that the Bundeswehr’s current strength – 62,000 active troops plus 37,000 inactive personnel – is far from sufficient to meet NATO goals.
“It is imperative for the army to become sufficiently ready for war by 2029 and provide the capabilities Germany pledged (to NATO) by 2035,” Mais wrote. He called for 45,000 additional soldiers by 2029, the year NATO believes Russia could be ready to mount a large-scale attack on Western allies, and another 45,000 by 2035 to sustain long-term readiness. A further 10,000 would be needed for territorial defense.
Germany has already increased its commitments in Eastern Europe, stationing a 5,000-strong brigade in Lithuania and stepping up naval patrols in the Baltic Sea to deter underwater sabotage
A Defense Ministry spokesperson declined to comment on the leaked letter but confirmed NATO has raised its capability demands after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The warning over Germany’s manpower came as NATO allies rushed to reassure Poland after Russian drones violated its airspace this week. French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that three Rafale fighter jets will help patrol Polish and Eastern European skies, in coordination with NATO.
“I gave this commitment to Prime Minister Donald Tusk,” Macron said, adding that he had also spoken with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. “The security of the European continent is our top priority. We will not give in to Russia’s increasing intimidation.”
The move follows the incursion early Wednesday of Russian drones over Polish airspace, a number of which were shot down by Poland, marking the first time a NATO member has downed Russian drones since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow denied responsibility, claiming there was no evidence the drones were Russian. But Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski dismissed that claim: “On the night that 19 Russian drones crossed into Poland, 400 drones and 40 missiles flew over Ukraine. These were not mistakes.”
Sikorski traveled to Kyiv on Friday for talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who posted a photo of their meeting at a railway station.
“Against the backdrop of Russia’s escalation of terror against Ukraine and provocations against Poland, we stand firmly together,” Sybiha wrote.
The ministers were set to discuss joint security, Ukraine’s EU and NATO membership bids, and pressure on Moscow.
The visit coincided with large-scale joint exercises by Russia and Belarus, both of which border Poland. Sikorski warned that such maneuvers underscored the urgency of reinforcing NATO’s eastern defenses.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also arrived in Ukraine on Friday for talks, including a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, highlighting coordinated Western support.