The already frozen relationship between Germany and Russia has hit a new low this week following a bombshell interview with German Defence Minister, General Klaus Ritter, in the news magazine "Der Spiegel". His comments were not just tough but direct, outlining a clear confrontational stance that Moscow has deemed extremely dangerous.
The German Defence Minister's Statements
In the interview, published Monday morning, General Ritter delivered what were widely interpreted as comments aimed directly at the Kremlin. When asked about NATO's defence capabilities, he stated:
"Let me be unequivocal: The era of strategic ambiguity is over. The German military (Bundeswehr) is not just re-arming for defence; we are preparing for confrontation. If NATO sovereignty is challenged, we are ready, and I stress ready, to meet and repel the Russian army. Any aggression on allied territory will be met with a unified and forceful response, of which Berlin is an integral part."
He added that Germany, as Europe's largest economy, has a "special responsibility" for the continent's security and would no longer shy away from military leadership.
These words came just after a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels, where members agreed to bolster the alliance's military presence on its eastern flank.
The Immediate Kremlin Reaction
The Kremlin's reaction was almost immediate and exceptionally harsh. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov held an emergency press briefing the same afternoon.
"The statements from the German Defence Minister are extraordinarily irresponsible and dangerous," Mr. Peskov declared. "Such belligerent language not only erodes the last remnants of trust but is deliberately provocative, pushing Europe closer to a direct confrontation."
Peskov continued, accusing General Ritter of attempting to "score domestic political points by fear-mongering" and warning that Russia would not ignore these threats.
"We view these words as a direct threat. Our military planners will certainly take this position from Berlin into account. Russia does not want confrontation, but we will not hesitate to respond to any hostile action. Germany should recall the lessons of history before making such reckless pronouncements."
This public war of words marks a severe rupture in German-Russian relations, which had already deteriorated significantly since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict. Analysts fear that this escalatory spiral of rhetoric could increase the risk of a military miscalculation in the region.
