Danger comes from Russia, NATO seeks 400,000 additional soldiers from Germany

According to sources from insiders NATO wants Germany to make another seven brigades available, namely about 40,000 additional soldiers for the alliance's defence. New targets for the weapons and size of troops, for which NATO countries' defence ministers are expected to agree next week, are seen as agreed, three people familiar with the issue told Reuters news agency, writes DW, broadcast. Periscope.

According to a senior military official, the target for the total number of brigades that NATO allies will have to make available in the future will increase to 120 to 130. This represents an increase of about 50 per cent of the current target, which is around 80 brigades.

A German Defence Ministry spokesman refused to express himself on this news. The spokesman said he cannot speak in advance of the decisions of NATO defence ministers to be taken next week, as well as of NATO heads of state and government at their summit in late June. Neither has NATO made any statements so far.

NATO Sees Russia as Major Threat
NATO aims to significantly strengthen its troops, as since Ukraine's 2022 invasion views Russia as a significantly greater threat. Accurate figures regarding NATO goals are difficult to verify.

At NATO Summit in The Hague, Secretary General NATO, Mark Rutte, wants to persuade heads of state and government to double their current military spending target and protection from two to five per cent of economic production. 3.5 per cent should be available only for the army and 1.5 per cent for spending in the related assistance sectors. /Priscopi/