[Foreign Media: NATO Asks Germany to Deploy 7 More Brigades to Strengthen European Defense]

On May 28, Reuters reported that NATO asked Germany to deploy 7 more brigades (about 40,000 soldiers) for the alliance's defense. This is part of the new round of troop and equipment targets that NATO defense ministers are expected to approve next week. Reuters reported that due to the increasing threat from Russia, NATO has significantly raised its requirements for military potential.

Due to strict confidentiality of information, it is difficult to verify NATO's overall and each country's specific troop targets. However, an anonymous senior military source revealed that NATO member countries will need to provide a total of 120-130 brigade-level forces in the future, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the current target of about 80 brigades. A government source said that NATO's overall target is 130 brigades.

In 2021, Germany promised to provide 10 brigades (with each brigade consisting of approximately 5,000 personnel) by 2030. Currently, Germany already has 8 brigades, and the 9th brigade being formed in Lithuania is planned to be ready by 2027. However, adding 40,000 soldiers poses a severe challenge for Berlin: Germany's Federal Defense Force has yet to reach the 2018-set target of 203,000 personnel, with the active-duty force reportedly short by about 20,000 according to Ministry of Defense data.

Reuters previously reported that to fully implement the new anti-Russian defense plan, NATO needs an additional 35-50 brigades, and Germany alone needs to quadruple its air defense capabilities. Moreover, the new targets do not yet consider the prospect of U.S. troops potentially withdrawing from Europe, a concern that worries the continent.

The current level of defense spending at 2% of GDP is hard to sustain, even though Trump demanded raising it to 5%, with most European countries unlikely to meet this standard. Dutch Prime Minister Rutte expressed concerns that the disagreement between Trump and Zelensky over Ukraine's future might ruin the upcoming Hague NATO summit.

Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833418752293900/

Disclaimer: The article only represents the author's personal views.