“Race against time”
Bundeswehr general fears attack on NATO territory
01.07.2024, 02:24 a.m.
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A consistent rearmament of the West could prevent another war with Russia, says Bundeswehr General von Sandrat. Moscow has the potential for such an attack. The head of the Munich Security Conference also accuses Putin of having a lust for the Baltic states.
Before the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, the German commander of the alliance’s Multinational Corps Northeast, Lieutenant General Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart, expressed concern about an attack by Russia. Moscow has the potential to spark another conflict, including with NATO, von Sandrart told the “Welt”. “This threat exists. And it is growing with each passing day,” warned the Bundeswehr general. “By no means are all of Russia’s forces tied up in Ukraine,” von Sandrart pointed out. “To hope and think little about Russia would be an existential mistake.”
NATO is currently ready to defend its northeast flank, von Sandrart told the newspaper. “However, to the extent that Russia could free up more resources, for example by switching from attack to defense of the occupied territories in Ukraine, the threat to other flanks and fronts automatically increases.” That is why “we must urgently and consistently step up our efforts,” demanded the general. It is a race against time: “We must be prepared before Russia is reconstituted.”
Von Sandrart is responsible for the tactical leadership of land operations on the alliance’s north-eastern flank. NATO and the Bundeswehr must use the time without open conflict “to become war-ready – which can ultimately prevent war,” he said in the interview.
Heusgen: Putin has already announced attack
The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, also warned against a Russian attack on NATO territory. When asked by the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post” and the Bonn “General-Anzeiger” whether he believed Vladimir Putin was capable of attacking the Baltic states, Heusgen said: “He has already announced it! He wants to restore the Soviet Union; the Baltic states were part of that. If we let him, he will continue.”
Heusgen said of Putin’s comments about a possible use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war: “Putin is a master at stirring up fear. This is the intention behind his hints and the threats he has those around him make.” At the same time, he is observing a new nuclear arms buildup. This is “very sad” given the fact that a lot of money is missing to combat climate change, for example.