The inspector general of the Bundeswehr is weighing in on the matter.

Taking direct military action will be difficult.

In essence, we would have to hold our ground there, meaning we do not pull back.

We need to maintain our presence.

The forces that are deployed there in an observation role cannot withdraw and leave, because otherwise, the Russians will continue entrenching themselves, building anti-tank barriers, laying mines, and fortifying the area.

At some point, you have to make clear we are staying here, and if you want to push us out, you will have to actively do something about it.

[dramatic music] The so-called Petersberg Tasks define the European Union's traditional range of military missions: humanitarian operations, evacuations, stabilization missions, monitoring, and peacekeeping, but not large-scale territorial defense.

The force itself is limited to a maximum of 5,000 troops, so the Europeans would first have to discuss who is willing to contribute what.

The inspector general of the Bundeswehr proposes a temporary solution.

We can make use of existing military training grounds.

We can also set up temporary container housing alongside existing barracks.

That is one option we would need to pursue in parallel, including commissioning the necessary companies to put it into place.

That is why the blue team wants NATO to establish full maritime control in the Baltic Sea to ensure Allied forces can move freely while restricting Russia's ability to operate there.

As for A2/AD, we would need a major electronic and air power response.

From a NATO perspective, that is something we could manage with capabilities such as the F-35.

Our own air force assets would also be part of that.

By then, we would already have our first F-35s in service while the Tornados would still be operational.

It is an area where Germany is already under attack, but where legal restraints leave it with only limited options to strike back.

I would like to come back to the cyber issue.

At the moment, we are still operating in something of a legal gray zone.

As Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, he is Germany's highest ranking soldier and serves as the federal government's senior military advisor.

We are currently in the process of building up the brigade in Lithuania to full strength.

That means we have two German battalions stationed there.

That means Germany has to coordinate closely with the other contributing nations.

As far as I know, the Netherlands and Norway are contributing troops there.

That means we should first sit down with our multinational partners at the military level and compare assessments, both of the operational situation and of the political intentions of their governments.

That is why the defense minister turns to the inspector general for an assessment.

We could launch a campaign centered around increased military exercises in Lithuania.

We've done that before.

In practical terms, that means sending troops there.

Looking at the timeline, it's October now, I would estimate we could do it within the next four weeks.

Inside the blue team, the inspector general of the Bundeswehr reports on the latest developments.

At 3 a.m. local time this morning, around 12,000 Russian troops crossed the Belarusian border headed towards Kaliningrad.

This is a clear violation of alliance territory involving a significant number of troops.

As inspector general of the Bundeswehr, he is Germany's highest-ranking soldier and serves as the federal government's senior military advisor.

We are currently in the process of building up the brigade in Lithuania to full strength.

That means we have two German battalions stationed there.

That means Germany has to coordinate closely with the other contributing nations.

As far as I know, the Netherlands and Norway are contributing troops there.

That means we should first sit down with our multinational partners at the military level and compare assessments, both of the operational situation and of the political intentions of their governments.