Germany says NATO must ramp up defense output for ‘credible deterrence’ against Russia

Speaking to reporters alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Berlin, Wadephul said an attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport last month had shown how serious the threat from Moscow has become. German investigators have pointed to Russian intelligence services, and Berlin has announced extensive sanctions in response.

“It is part of a pattern of increasing Russian aggression against Europe and NATO, be it drone incidents or airspace violations affecting a number of allies on the Eastern Flank,” Wadephul said. “We are also seeing an increasing number of hybrid attacks, cyberattacks, hostile activities, sabotage, disinformation campaigns, and attacks on critical infrastructure.”

He said some of those campaigns were meant to spread fear and shape public opinion ahead of recent regional elections in Germany. Wadephul thanked Rutte and other allies for standing with Berlin after Germany made its findings on the Leipzig incident public.

Allies, he said, must stay politically united and do more to build up military strength. “That means investing more, producing faster, and procuring more quickly. Ultimately, it is about credible deterrence—and that only works if we actually possess the necessary capabilities.”

Wadephul repeated that Germany, together with other European allies, will keep raising defense spending, strengthen its armed forces and take on a larger share of responsibility for security inside the alliance.

He said Berlin will continue to give Ukraine strong military support, above all air defense. That includes extra interceptor missiles before winter to protect cities and energy infrastructure, he added.