German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that there remains a possibility of Russia attacking NATO countries in 2029-2030, given the growth of the Russian Armed Forces. The official’s words during a visit to Vilnius were reported by the Lithuanian publication Delfi.

“Military experts are following events in Russia very closely. The military industry is developing significantly there, a lot of tanks and planes are being produced, and this means that the Russian armed forces are growing significantly. By 2026, their number will probably grow to 1.5 million soldiers,” Pistorius said.

Citing unnamed experts, he noted that dictator Vladimir Putin could reorganize his Armed Forces in 2029-2030 to create the appropriate conditions for a possible theoretical attack on other countries, including those in NATO.

Accordingly, by this time the members of the Alliance must ensure their defense capability, Pistorius emphasized.

“This task, of course, requires both time and money, but we are striving towards our goal,” the official concluded.