GERMAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW MILITARY SERVICE LAW AMID RUSSIAN THREAT

Sat 06 December 2025:

Germany‘s parliament approved legislation Friday to overhaul the country’s military service system, introducing mandatory health screenings for young men while keeping recruitment voluntary.

Parliament voted 323 to 272, with one abstention, to approve the new military service law. The legislation aims to expand the Bundeswehr to between 255,000 and 270,000 active soldiers by 2035.

Under the new system, all 18-year-old men born from Jan. 1, 2008, onward must complete a questionnaire about their qualifications, fitness and willingness to serve. Men must respond and undergo medical examinations, while participation remains voluntary for women.

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Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told lawmakers the new law is “a decisive step” for Germany’s defense capability. “The service should initially be voluntary, but it’s also clear: if that isn’t enough, we won’t be able to avoid partial conscription. This country, this democracy, deserves it,” he said.

The legislation requires approval from the Bundesrat, Germany’s upper house, later this month before taking effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

The reform addresses chronic personnel shortages in Germany’s armed forces, which currently have about 184,000 active soldiers. To meet NATO commitments, the Defense Ministry aims to expand the Bundeswehr to around 270,000 active troops by 2035. This requires approximately 20,000 new recruits each year.

Germany abolished compulsory military service in 2011, shifting to an all-volunteer professional force.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 triggered a major shift in German security policy (known as Zeitenwende, or “turning point”). The ongoing threat from Russia, combined with the need for stronger deterrence, made expanding the military urgent.

Germany seeks to fulfill NATO commitments, including new force goals that could require up to 460,000 personnel in a wartime scenario.

Allies expect Germany to contribute more personnel (beyond just funding and equipment). Uncertainty about U.S. reliability under potential future administrations added pressure for Europe to strengthen its own defenses.

-Independent Press with AA

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