NATO General: Germany Urgently Needs to Strengthen Defenses Against Hybrid Threats

2025-11-18 22:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

NATO General: Germany Urgently Needs to Strengthen Defenses Against Hybrid

Germany must urgently strengthen its capabilities to deter both conventional and hybrid attacks, NATO General Ingo Gerhartz said, amid growing concerns about Russian aggression and other lower-level threats across Europe.

At the start of a two-day conference in Berlin on November 18, focused on strengthening Europe's defense, Gerhart said that "our main challenge is deterrence, and deterrence today must be against all kinds of oppression."

He stressed that, to counter a growing number of hybrid attacks, Germany needs rapid reforms in military procurement, rapid implementation of the new military service law, and strengthening defense preparedness throughout society.

"To transform investments into containment, institutions must change, processes must adapt, and most importantly, our entire society must engage," he said.

Gerhartz expressed regret over the months-long debate over whether and how to introduce military service in Germany, which was politically resolved only last week.

He said Russia also understands that the German procurement process sometimes takes years and that the industry has difficulty ramping up weapons production.

"This shows that Germany as a whole has not yet reached the strategic maturity that this time requires," argued Gerhartz, who commands NATO's operational headquarters in Brunsum, Holland, called Allied Joint Force Command.

There should also be a discussion on how deterrence might work in the future in the so-called “gray zone” of hybrid attacks, which may not amount to an obligation to defend a NATO ally under NATO’s Article 5. Gerhartz said that “we need to review our approach to deterrence.”

Politicians, military officials and defense experts are gathering in the German capital for the conference, which will include more than 140 speakers in keynote speeches and panel discussions.

Participants aim to examine ways to respond to a range of threats facing NATO and the European Union, including measures to increase weapons production and adopt new technologies.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Swedish Defense Minister Pál Jonsson also attended the two-day conference.

During his statement, Pistorius called for Germany's European allies to quickly expand defense readiness on the continent.

He also referred to the growing threat from Russia. Pistorius signed an agreement with Johnson to increase military cooperation with the NATO member state.

Pistorius pointed out that Moscow is already carrying out large-scale hybrid attacks, using cyberattacks, espionage, sabotage and disinformation.

He added that the Baltic Sea, traditionally seen as a link between European countries, is increasingly turning into a zone of tension, serving as a testing ground for Russian President Vladimir Putin for Europe's capacity to deter and respond.

He mentioned damaged underwater cables, airspace violations and drone flights./ Rel