Overview
- Germany faces a shortfall of 100,000 soldiers needed to meet NATO alliance commitments, prompting discussions on reintroducing conscription.
- Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated that conscription could be reinstated by January 1, 2026, if voluntary recruitment efforts fail to meet targets.
- The Social Democratic Party (SPD) prefers voluntary recruitment, while the Conservative coalition partners are open to mandatory service.
- The Bundeswehr calls for accelerated investments in equipment, infrastructure, and personnel to bolster military readiness.
- Germany abolished conscription in 2011 but is now reassessing its defense strategy amid heightened security concerns post-Ukraine invasion.