According to a confidential document just revealed by German magazine Spiegel, the German army (Bundeswehr) identified Russia as a " survival threat" to Germany and the whole of Europe, a strongest warning ever in the context of escalating tensions between the East and the West.
The confidential document warned that the Kremlin is arranging both its industrial structure and leadership "to meet the requirements for a large-scale conflict against NATO by the end of the decade".
The report cited a strategic report saying Russia is preparing for a conflict with NATO, especially by increasing its forces in western Russia "on the border with NATO".
According to the report, Russia could have about 1.5 million troops serving in the army as early as next year.
The report concluded that Germany could only counter the threat by consistently developing its military capabilities and the whole of society.
The report said experts and soldiers had drafted a strategic report over the past 18 months to guide the future direction of the German army.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has recently backed US President Donald Trump's request to increase NATO's defense spending target to 5% of national GDP, a major change that could be made by loosening Berlin's historical policy on constitutional debt limitations.
