Germany has declared itself ready to fight Russia immediately if Moscow attacks Nato territory, signalling a historic shift in Europe’s military posture as fears grow that the Kremlin could test the alliance’s resolve.
In one of the bluntest warnings issued by a senior German commander in decades, Lt Gen Holger Neumann, chief of the Luftwaffe, said his forces stand prepared to launch into action at a moment’s notice.
“Fight tonight means if someone calls me now and says we have the following situation here, we have to be ready now and we are ready,” he said.
The remarks represent a striking departure from the caution that has characterised much of Germany’s military rhetoric since the end of the Cold War.
For years, Berlin’s armed forces were shaped by an era of relative peace and reduced defence spending. Today, however, Germany finds itself at the forefront of Nato’s efforts to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia.
The Luftwaffe chief’s message to Moscow was unambiguous.
Any attack on Nato territory would trigger an overwhelming response from the alliance’s combined air forces. Describing the military balance as “32 against X”, Lt Gen Neumann pointed to Nato’s vast collective strength and warned there would be no hesitation in defending any member state. “It must be clear, there are no zones of different security, that Nato is Nato, down to the last inch,” he said.
The statement carries particular significance for the Baltic states, long regarded as among the alliance’s most vulnerable members. The German commander insisted an attack on Estonia would demand precisely the same response as an attack on Britain itself. At a time when Russian military activity continues to intensify along Nato’s borders, the declaration was intended to remove any doubt from the Kremlin’s calculations.
Military planners across Europe remain concerned that Vladimir Putin could seek to exploit perceived weaknesses within the alliance, particularly after years of debate over defence spending and military readiness. Lt Gen Neumann highlighted several regions that Nato continues to monitor closely. Among them are Russia’s heavily militarised Kola Peninsula, home to critical nuclear infrastructure and naval assets, St Petersburg and the strategically vital Black Sea region, where Moscow maintains its prized fleet.
The warning comes amid growing recognition that Russia’s war in Ukraine has transformed the European security landscape. Although Moscow has failed to secure complete air superiority over Ukraine despite years of conflict, the German commander cautioned against drawing comforting conclusions. “Rule number one – never underestimate your opponent,” he warned.
While Russian forces have suffered substantial losses, they have also gained years of battlefield experience, refining tactics and testing weapons systems under combat conditions. According to Lt Gen Neumann, Nato must assume that Russia has learned valuable lessons from the conflict. He pointed to advanced aircraft including the Su-35 Flanker, the Su-57 Felon and the MiG-31 Foxhound, alongside cruise missiles, ballistic weapons and hypersonic systems capable of threatening targets across Europe.
Those capabilities, he argued, demand constant vigilance. The interview also offered a glimpse into Germany’s sweeping military transformation. Under Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ambitious rearmament programme, Berlin is investing billions into rebuilding its armed forces after decades of underinvestment. The Luftwaffe is expanding stockpiles of Patriot, Iris-T and Arrow 3 air defence systems while preparing for large-scale combat operations that would have been almost unthinkable only a few years ago.
“In the past, we have sent Eurofighter contingents to the eastern flank,” Lt Gen Neumann said. “But we have never done so en masse.”
That, he suggested, may soon change. The general also extended a remarkable offer to Britain. Should the United Kingdom require additional air-defence protection under Nato arrangements, German systems could be deployed to help shield British skies from attack. The pledge comes at an uncomfortable moment for Britain, where questions about military readiness have intensified following turmoil at the top of government and renewed scrutiny of defence spending.
For Germany, however, the message was unmistakable. The era of strategic hesitation is over. As war continues to rage on Europe’s eastern frontier and Russia rebuilds its military machine, Berlin wants Moscow to understand one thing above all else. If Nato is attacked, Germany intends to fight. And, according to the man commanding its air force, it is prepared to do so tonight.
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