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yesterday

Germany Considers Military Draft Return as Voluntary Recruitment Falls Short

Defence Minister Pistorius signals January 2026 as a potential start date for conscription if troop targets for NATO obligations remain unmet.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius speaks at the joint press conference on the day of the meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers at the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome, Italy May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
JASIONKA, POLAND - JANUARY 23: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks with a US soldier at the US made MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) system location on January 23, 2025 in Jasionka, Poland. Germany recently redeployed a Patriot air defense system in Poland, its NATO ally. (Photo by Omar Marques/Getty Images)
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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.