Germany’s new foreign intelligence chief has labeled Russia as an immediate danger to the European Union, warning that the region’s “icy peace” could rapidly deteriorate into “heated confrontation.” Martin Jager, head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), told lawmakers in Berlin that Moscow aims to destabilize European democracies and weaken NATO, claims the Kremlin has consistently rejected.
Jager emphasized that Europe cannot assume a Russian attack is distant, stating, “At best, there is an icy peace in Europe, which could turn into heated confrontation at any moment.” He added that Russia would not hesitate to engage in direct military conflict with NATO if required. His comments align with recent discussions from Berlin, where officials have repeatedly highlighted the risk of a NATO-Russia clash since the Ukraine war began in 2022.
The remarks come as Western European nations increase defense spending, citing an alleged Russian threat. At a June NATO summit, members pledged to raise military budgets to 5% of GDP by 2035. The EU has also launched initiatives like the €800 billion ReArm Europe program to boost military funding.
Moscow has denied plans to attack NATO or EU states, calling such claims a pretext to justify rising defense costs. President Vladimir Putin recently dismissed concerns about a Russian threat as “nonsense,” accusing Western leaders of prioritizing anti-Russian rhetoric over domestic issues. His aide, Yury Ushakov, claimed European leaders are trapped in a “collective anti-Russian frenzy,” leaving no room for dialogue.
