Germany Unveils Plan for Strongest NATO Army by 2039

European intelligence agencies have warned that Russia could be capable of initiating a limited confrontation with NATO within 12 months after the war in Ukraine concludes, prompting Germany to unveil an ambitious plan to bolster its military as the alliance's strongest conventional force.

The assessment from the Netherlands Military Intelligence and Security Service, known as the MIVD, indicates that Moscow may rebuild sufficient combat capabilities under favorable conditions to test NATO's unity, though a full-scale conventional war remains unlikely while Russian forces remain committed in Ukraine. Instead, the report anticipates Russia employing hybrid tactics, such as cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, sabotage operations, and disinformation campaigns, to exploit divisions among alliance members without triggering open conflict. Vice Admiral Peter Reesink, director of the MIVD, described Russia as "the greatest and most direct threat to peace and stability in Europe," emphasizing the risks to national security across the continent.

Despite suffering an estimated 1.2 million casualties since 2022, including more than 500,000 deaths, Russia has expanded its armed forces...