NATO general urges 'rethink' of deterrence at Berlin security talks

NATO General Ingo Gerhartz called on Germany to step up its efforts to deter possible future attacks, at the start of a two-day conference in Berlin focused on strengthening Europe’s defence.

"Our main challenge is deterrence, and deterrence today and against all types of oppression," the German general said.

In order to successfully fend off and prevent threats and an increasing number of hybrid attacks, a fundamental reform of procurement, the rapid implementation of the new German military service law and a strengthening of defence preparedness throughout society are indispensable, said Gerhartz at the start of the Berlin Security Conference.

"To transform pure investments into deterrence, institutions need to change, processes must be adapted, and most important, our whole society must come on board," he said.

Gerhartz lamented the months-long dispute over whether and how to introduce military service in Germany, which politically has only been resolved in the past week.

Russia also realises that the German procurement process sometimes takes years and that the industry has problems ramping up armaments production, he said.

"It shows Germany as a whole has not yet reached the strategic maturity that our times demand," argued Gerhartz, who is in command of the NATO operational headquarters in Brunssum, the Netherlands, called the Allied Joint Force Command.

There also needed to be a discussion on how deterrence could function in future in the so-called "grey zone" of hybrid attacks which may fall below the obligation to defend a fellow NATO ally under NATO's Article 5. Gerhartz demanded: "We must rethink our approach to deterrence" he said.

Politicians, military officials and defence experts are meeting in the German capital for the conference, which will features more than 140 speakers in keynote speeches and in discussion panels.

Participants aim to explore responses to a range of threats facing NATO and the European Union, including measures to boost arms production and the adoption of new technologies.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson are attending.