By JAMES REYNOLDS

Published: 16:47 GMT, 25 November 2024 | Updated: 16:47 GMT, 25 November 2024

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Germany is drawing up a list of bunkers that could provide emergency shelter to civilians in the event of war amid growing World War Three fears over soaring tensions with Russia over the war in Ukraine. The Interior Ministry announced underground train stations, car parks, state buildings and private properties could all be harnessed for protection if a war between Ukraine's Western backers and Russia does break out. The plans were announced as a leading NATO official urged businesses to prepare for a 'wartime scenario' and adjust their production and distribution lines to be less vulnerable to blackmail from Russia and its allies.

Germany is drawing up a list of bunkers that could provide emergency shelter to civilians in the event of war amid growing World War Three fears over soaring tensions with Russia over the war in Ukraine. The Interior Ministry announced underground train stations, car parks, state buildings and private properties could all be harnessed for protection if a war between Ukraine’s Western backers and Russia does break out. The plans were announced as a leading NATO official urged businesses to prepare for a ‘wartime scenario’ and adjust their production and distribution lines to be less vulnerable to blackmail from Russia and its allies.

Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, the chair of NATO's military committee, warned companies at an event of the European Policy Centre think tank today that western dependencies left allies open to pressure from both Russia and China . 'Business leaders in Europe and America need to realize that the commercial decisions they make have strategic consequences for the security of their nation,' he stressed, adding: 'While it may be the military who wins battles, it's the economies that win wars.' 'If we can make sure that all crucial services and goods can be delivered no matter what, then that is a key part of our deterrence,' Admiral Bauer, said in Brussels today.

Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, the chair of NATO's military committee, warned companies at an event of the European Policy Centre think tank today that western dependencies left allies open to pressure from both Russia and China . 'Business leaders in Europe and America need to realize that the commercial decisions they make have strategic consequences for the security of their nation,' he stressed, adding: 'While it may be the military who wins battles, it's the economies that win wars.' 'If we can make sure that all crucial services and goods can be delivered no matter what, then that is a key part of our deterrence,' Admiral Bauer, said in Brussels today.

Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, the chair of NATO’s military committee, warned companies at an event of the European Policy Centre think tank today that western dependencies left allies open to pressure from both Russia and China . ‘Business leaders in Europe and America need to realize that the commercial decisions they make have strategic consequences for the security of their nation,’ he stressed, adding: ‘While it may be the military who wins battles, it’s the economies that win wars.’ ‘If we can make sure that all crucial services and goods can be delivered no matter what, then that is a key part of our deterrence,’ Admiral Bauer, said in Brussels today.

'We're seeing that with the growing number of sabotage acts, and Europe has seen that with energy supply,' Bauer said. 'We thought we had a deal with Gazprom, but we actually had a deal with Mr Putin. And the same goes for Chinese-owned infrastructure and goods. We actually have a deal with (Chinese President) Xi (Jinping).' Bauer noted western dependencies on supplies from China, with 60% of all rare earth materials produced and 90% processed there.

'We're seeing that with the growing number of sabotage acts, and Europe has seen that with energy supply,' Bauer said. 'We thought we had a deal with Gazprom, but we actually had a deal with Mr Putin. And the same goes for Chinese-owned infrastructure and goods. We actually have a deal with (Chinese President) Xi (Jinping).' Bauer noted western dependencies on supplies from China, with 60% of all rare earth materials produced and 90% processed there.

‘We’re seeing that with the growing number of sabotage acts, and Europe has seen that with energy supply,’ Bauer said. ‘We thought we had a deal with Gazprom, but we actually had a deal with Mr Putin. And the same goes for Chinese-owned infrastructure and goods. We actually have a deal with (Chinese President) Xi (Jinping).’ Bauer noted western dependencies on supplies from China, with 60% of all rare earth materials produced and 90% processed there.

He said chemical ingredients for sedatives, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and low blood pressure medicines were also coming from China. 'We are naive if we think the Communist Party will never use that power.' Bauer also warned that Russia's land forces are bigger now than at the time of Moscow's full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, but said their quality has decreased since.

He said chemical ingredients for sedatives, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and low blood pressure medicines were also coming from China. 'We are naive if we think the Communist Party will never use that power.' Bauer also warned that Russia's land forces are bigger now than at the time of Moscow's full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, but said their quality has decreased since.

He said chemical ingredients for sedatives, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and low blood pressure medicines were also coming from China. ‘We are naive if we think the Communist Party will never use that power.’ Bauer also warned that Russia’s land forces are bigger now than at the time of Moscow’s full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, but said their quality has decreased since.

'The quality of those forces has gone down,' the Chair of NATO's Military Committee, Dutchman Admiral Rob Bauer, said, pointing to the state of the force's equipment and the level of training of its soldiers. 'At the moment, the Russians are not the same threat as in February 2022, so we have a bit of time to prepare ourselves,' he said, adding that this meant ramping up investments into the defense industry. He added that NATO allies will need to spend much closer to 3% of their gross domestic product on their militaries to implement the alliance's new defense plans, as costs will surpass the alliance's existing 2% target.

'The quality of those forces has gone down,' the Chair of NATO's Military Committee, Dutchman Admiral Rob Bauer, said, pointing to the state of the force's equipment and the level of training of its soldiers. 'At the moment, the Russians are not the same threat as in February 2022, so we have a bit of time to prepare ourselves,' he said, adding that this meant ramping up investments into the defense industry. He added that NATO allies will need to spend much closer to 3% of their gross domestic product on their militaries to implement the alliance's new defense plans, as costs will surpass the alliance's existing 2% target.

‘The quality of those forces has gone down,’ the Chair of NATO’s Military Committee, Dutchman Admiral Rob Bauer, said, pointing to the state of the force’s equipment and the level of training of its soldiers. ‘At the moment, the Russians are not the same threat as in February 2022, so we have a bit of time to prepare ourselves,’ he said, adding that this meant ramping up investments into the defense industry. He added that NATO allies will need to spend much closer to 3% of their gross domestic product on their militaries to implement the alliance’s new defense plans, as costs will surpass the alliance’s existing 2% target.

'The overall percentage that is necessary to make the new plans executable is much closer to 3% of GDP than it is to 2%,' Bauer said today. 'I expect that under the new (Donald) Trump administration (in the U.S.), there will be a much more intense discussion about how much more Europe and Canada need to spend, and that is a healthy and valid discussion to be had.' On top of defense spending, NATO countries have taken additional precautions in civil defense to ensure if a war does break out, civilians are protected and know how to safeguard themselves against potential threats.

'The overall percentage that is necessary to make the new plans executable is much closer to 3% of GDP than it is to 2%,' Bauer said today. 'I expect that under the new (Donald) Trump administration (in the U.S.), there will be a much more intense discussion about how much more Europe and Canada need to spend, and that is a healthy and valid discussion to be had.' On top of defense spending, NATO countries have taken additional precautions in civil defense to ensure if a war does break out, civilians are protected and know how to safeguard themselves against potential threats.

‘The overall percentage that is necessary to make the new plans executable is much closer to 3% of GDP than it is to 2%,’ Bauer said today. ‘I expect that under the new (Donald) Trump administration (in the U.S.), there will be a much more intense discussion about how much more Europe and Canada need to spend, and that is a healthy and valid discussion to be had.’ On top of defense spending, NATO countries have taken additional precautions in civil defense to ensure if a war does break out, civilians are protected and know how to safeguard themselves against potential threats.

Germany's Interior Ministry announced today that a digital directory of all bunkers and emergency shelters will be drawn up so people can find them quickly using a planned phone app. People will also be encouraged to create protective shelters in their homes by converting basements and garages, a spokesman told a press briefing. He declined to give a timetable, saying it was a 'big project' that would take 'some time', involving the Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and other authorities.

Germany's Interior Ministry announced today that a digital directory of all bunkers and emergency shelters will be drawn up so people can find them quickly using a planned phone app. People will also be encouraged to create protective shelters in their homes by converting basements and garages, a spokesman told a press briefing. He declined to give a timetable, saying it was a 'big project' that would take 'some time', involving the Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and other authorities.

Germany’s Interior Ministry announced today that a digital directory of all bunkers and emergency shelters will be drawn up so people can find them quickly using a planned phone app. People will also be encouraged to create protective shelters in their homes by converting basements and garages, a spokesman told a press briefing. He declined to give a timetable, saying it was a ‘big project’ that would take ‘some time’, involving the Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and other authorities.

The country of 83 million has 579 bunkers, mostly dating from World War II and the Cold War era, which can provide shelter for 480,000 people - down from about 2,000 bunkers previously, he said. The key points of the plan were agreed at a conference of senior officials in June, and a special group is now looking into it, the spokesman said. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, concerns have been growing about Moscow's potential to one day target other NATO members.

The country of 83 million has 579 bunkers, mostly dating from World War II and the Cold War era, which can provide shelter for 480,000 people - down from about 2,000 bunkers previously, he said. The key points of the plan were agreed at a conference of senior officials in June, and a special group is now looking into it, the spokesman said. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, concerns have been growing about Moscow's potential to one day target other NATO members.

The country of 83 million has 579 bunkers, mostly dating from World War II and the Cold War era, which can provide shelter for 480,000 people – down from about 2,000 bunkers previously, he said. The key points of the plan were agreed at a conference of senior officials in June, and a special group is now looking into it, the spokesman said. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, concerns have been growing about Moscow’s potential to one day target other NATO members.

In October German intelligence chiefs warned that Russia will likely be capable of launching an attack on the military alliance by 2030. German officials say the country is already facing a surge in Russian spying and sabotage activities. Russian President Vladimir Putin last week warned the conflict in Ukraine had characteristics of a 'global' war and did not rule out strikes on Western countries. Tensions have ratcheted up in the wake of Russia's use of what appeared to be an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile on Dnipro on November 21.

In October German intelligence chiefs warned that Russia will likely be capable of launching an attack on the military alliance by 2030. German officials say the country is already facing a surge in Russian spying and sabotage activities. Russian President Vladimir Putin last week warned the conflict in Ukraine had characteristics of a 'global' war and did not rule out strikes on Western countries. Tensions have ratcheted up in the wake of Russia's use of what appeared to be an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile on Dnipro on November 21.

In October German intelligence chiefs warned that Russia will likely be capable of launching an attack on the military alliance by 2030. German officials say the country is already facing a surge in Russian spying and sabotage activities. Russian President Vladimir Putin last week warned the conflict in Ukraine had characteristics of a ‘global’ war and did not rule out strikes on Western countries. Tensions have ratcheted up in the wake of Russia’s use of what appeared to be an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile on Dnipro on November 21.

The missile - dubbed the Oreshnik - carries multiple warheads, is believed to be nuclear-capable, and travels at a speed and trajectory that makes it difficult to intercept. Analysts have warned the missile was designed to send a message of 'back off' to the West after the US finally conceded Ukraine the right to use its ATACMS missiles to hit deep into Russia as Ukraine looks to slow the momentum of advancing troops. Putin said that Russia would keep testing its new hypersonic Oreshnik missile 'including in combat conditions' depending on the 'situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia' in televised comments on Friday.

The missile - dubbed the Oreshnik - carries multiple warheads, is believed to be nuclear-capable, and travels at a speed and trajectory that makes it difficult to intercept. Analysts have warned the missile was designed to send a message of 'back off' to the West after the US finally conceded Ukraine the right to use its ATACMS missiles to hit deep into Russia as Ukraine looks to slow the momentum of advancing troops. Putin said that Russia would keep testing its new hypersonic Oreshnik missile 'including in combat conditions' depending on the 'situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia' in televised comments on Friday.

The missile – dubbed the Oreshnik – carries multiple warheads, is believed to be nuclear-capable, and travels at a speed and trajectory that makes it difficult to intercept. Analysts have warned the missile was designed to send a message of ‘back off’ to the West after the US finally conceded Ukraine the right to use its ATACMS missiles to hit deep into Russia as Ukraine looks to slow the momentum of advancing troops. Putin said that Russia would keep testing its new hypersonic Oreshnik missile ‘including in combat conditions’ depending on the ‘situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia’ in televised comments on Friday.

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Germany draws up list of bunkers for civilians amid growing WW3 fears



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