World · Europe · 10 hrs ago
German Army chief urges NATO to prepare for surprise attacks
German Army chief Christian Freuding urged NATO to speed up its defense preparations after visiting Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
He said allies should be ready to respond immediately to a surprise attack, a posture known as “Fight Tonight” readiness.
Freuding made the visit with Dutch land forces chief Jan Swillens and senior German and Dutch commanders.
The Baltic states are on NATO’s eastern flank, which borders Russia and Belarus.
Military planners are concerned about the possibility of a limited Russian attack on NATO territory.
Freuding called for allies to pre-position weapons and equipment and strengthen their ability to defend NATO territory over time.
German Army chief Christian Freuding urged NATO to speed up its defense preparations and improve its ability to respond to a surprise attack.
He made the call after a multi-day visit to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, NATO members on the alliance’s eastern flank.
Freuding said allies should be ready for “Fight Tonight” and pre-position weapons and military equipment.
He also called for strengthening NATO’s ability to sustain the defense of its territory over time.
The reports cited concern among military planners and security analysts about the possibility of a limited Russian attack on NATO territory.
- Who
- Christian Freuding, Inspector General of the German Army, called for faster NATO preparations.
- What
- He urged NATO to improve collective defense capabilities and readiness for a surprise attack.
- When
- After a multi-day visit to the Baltic states; the reports were published on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, along NATO’s eastern flank.
- Why
- To improve NATO’s ability to respond to a surprise attack and defend its territory.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful said Russia was intensifying hybrid attacks against European countries and other states supporting Ukraine.
Wadeful said European security should be built against Russia, rather than in partnership with it.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans for a separate Bundeswehr drone regiment in 2027.
Freuding and his Dutch counterpart, Jan Swillens, began visits and consultations along NATO’s eastern flank.
Reports published Freuding’s call for NATO to accelerate its defense preparations after his Baltic states visit.
- German Army chief
- Christian Freuding
- Baltic states visited
- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
- Dutch counterpart
- Jan Swillens
- Publication date
- October 29, 2026
- Readiness concept
- Fight Tonight
3 sources
What people are saying
We have all come to the shared conviction that we need to become even faster in order to be ready for 'Fight Tonight,' and that we need to improve our capabilities every day
We all reached a common conviction that we must accelerate our preparations to engage in what is known as ‘Fight Tonight’ (Fight Tonight), and improve our capabilities daily, because this alone allows us to carry out our great responsibility