A German army chief has warnedVladimir Putinwill unleash the Russian military onEuropeif he gets an opportunity. Major General Wolf-Jürgen Stahl, President of Germany's Federal Academy for Security Policy, claimed his country already faces cyber attacks from Russia, which he said could increase its onslaught against Europe and even send troops in.
Mr Stahl told the German-British Society: "When I see how Putin has acted up to now and the way he is, in my assessment, on a mission against the West, then there is no question of whether he will use military means. If he gets the opportunity, he will use them."
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He said the world was coming apart at the seams, adding: "It’s turbulent. It’s rough. It’s lawless. It’s in a state of disorder."
The major general said the West urgently needed to work on shoring up its foundations, including inside the NATO military alliance. Germany's foundations - being part of theEuropean Union, a NATO member, its economic might and social cohesion - were also under pressure, the army chief suggested.
Mr Stahl went on to criticise US PresidentDonald Trump, accusing him of being an "erratic dealmaker with authoritarian leanings", according to remarks reported by theDaily Mail.
His criticism comes as defence leaders in Britain warned the country's armed forces have been "hollowed out by years of chronic underfunding".
An open letter to the Prime Minister, signed by three former defence secretaries, retired senior military chiefs and ex-MI6 head Sir Richard Dearlove, said Britain is facing a "1936 moment" amid rising global tensions andRussia's invasion ofUkraine.
The Prime Minister has committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP next year and to 3% after the next election. In their letter, published in the Daily Telegraph, the defence leaders urge him to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
