Germany’s new foreign intelligence chief has labeled Russia a direct danger to the European Union, warning that the bloc’s “icy peace” with Moscow could rapidly transform into “heated confrontation.” Martin Jager, who assumed leadership of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) last month, told lawmakers in Berlin on Monday that Russia aims to destabilize European democracies and weaken NATO—claims repeatedly denied by the Kremlin.
Jager emphasized that Europe must not assume a potential Russian attack is distant, stating, “At best, there is an icy peace in Europe, which could turn into heated confrontation at any moment.” He added that Russia would not hesitate to engage in direct military conflict with NATO if required. The remarks align with heightened concerns in Berlin about a possible clash between NATO and Moscow since the 2022 Ukraine conflict.
Western European nations are increasing military budgets, citing an alleged Russian threat. At a June NATO summit in The Hague, member states pledged to raise defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035. The EU has also launched initiatives like the €800 billion ReArm Europe program to boost military funding.
Moscow has rejected these accusations, calling them a pretext for diverting resources from social programs. President Vladimir Putin recently dismissed concerns about a Russian attack as “nonsense,” urging European leaders to focus on domestic issues instead. His aide, Yury Ushakov, claimed Western nations are trapped in an “anti-Russian frenzy,” leaving no space for dialogue.