Germany Warns Russia Could Attack NATO by 2029 Amid Rising Intelligence Concerns

BERLIN — German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned Tuesday that intelligence assessments indicate Russia may be preparing for the option of a future attack against a NATO member by 2029. This marks the third time in November that senior German officials have raised alarms about a possible confrontation with Russia within the next four years.

Wadephul emphasized that Moscow’s military buildup and economic changes suggest a shift toward war. “Putin eyes the EU and NATO. Our intelligence services are issuing urgent warnings: at the very least, Russia is creating the option for itself to wage war against NATO by 2029,” the German foreign ministry stated on its official social media account. “The threat to our country from Russia is no longer a distant concern; it is already a reality.”

In an interview with Fox News Digital, retired Gen. Philip Breedlove, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, supported the German assessment, saying there is “a lot of truth” in Wadephul’s warning. Breedlove noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions extend beyond Ukraine and aim to reshape the security architecture of Eastern Europe.

Breedlove recalled that before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow presented two documents described as treaties, which Western nations did not acknowledge. “Essentially, Mr. Putin said, ‘Sign these or there will be other means…’ And we did not sign them. And we learned what ‘or else’ meant,” Breedlove said, referring to Russia’s subsequent military actions in Crimea, the Donbas region, and the broader invasion.

He added that Putin’s goal is to reestablish a Cold War–style buffer zone in Eastern Europe, controlling countries between Russia and NATO. “If you read those two documents, his intention is for all of Eastern Europe… he’s going to rearrange the security architecture of Eastern Europe back to a Cold War status where he controls all those buffer countries and has this buffer between him and NATO,” Breedlove said.

The warnings come amid ongoing tensions between Russia and NATO, with Germany and other European nations closely monitoring Moscow’s military and economic activities. Officials stress the importance of deterring further Russian aggression in coordination with international partners and allies.