Germany’s ruling coalition announced a long-awaited compromise on Thursday on the future of military service, marking a significant step in efforts to rebuild the country’s depleted armed forces amid rising security concerns in Europe.
The agreement, struck between Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats, establishes a hybrid service model centred on voluntary enlistment, with the option of a mandatory call-up if recruitment targets are not met.
Germany, which once maintained nearly half a million troops during the Cold War, sharply reduced its military in the decades that followed.
But Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and renewed pressure from the United States for European nations to bolster their own defence capabilities have pushed Berlin to dramatically rethink its security posture.
“We will make voluntary service more attractive; we want to get as many young people excited about service for their country,” said Jens Spahn, parliamentary leader of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union. “If in the end, voluntary service isn’t enough, there will have to be a mandatory element.”
The compromise follows weeks of political wrangling over how to rebuild troop numbers without eroding public support. Merz has vowed to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest conventional army, aiming to lift troop levels from the current 182,000 to as many as 270,000, supported by an additional 200,000 reservists.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has previously warned that Germany must be “ready for war by 2029,” and parliament has already approved sweeping reforms to unlock billions of euros for defence upgrades.
Under the new proposal, expected to take effect early next year, all 18-year-olds will receive a questionnaire to assess their willingness to serve. For men, responding will be mandatory.
Recruits who join will earn €2,600 per month. A system of compulsory registration and medical screening will also be introduced, beginning with those born in 2008 and expanding in phases.
If voluntary enlistment fails to meet demand, lawmakers may vote to activate needs-based conscription, though the specifics of how compulsory service would be implemented are still under discussion.
The move reflects a broader shift across Europe as countries scramble to strengthen their militaries after years of underinvestment, an urgency underscored by continuing instability on the continent’s eastern flank.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
