Overview
- Lawmakers are expected to vote on the military service legislation in December.
- The framework prioritizes voluntary enlistment with new incentives, requiring all 18-year-old men to register in 2026 and undergo medical screenings starting in 2027.
- If volunteer targets are missed, a limited lottery-based draft could be activated subject to Bundestag approval.
- Berlin aims to grow the force to roughly 260,000 active troops and 200,000 reservists by 2035 to meet NATO-related requirements.
- Officials cite a mounting Russian threat as the rationale for the shift, while youth activists have criticized any potential return to compulsory service.