Is Germany's Mandatory Military Registration Enough to Meet NATO Force Targets
The German Bundestag has successfully passed the Military Service Modernization Act following an intense final debate. The legislative proposal, introduced by the ruling coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (Union) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), secured the necessary majority in a roll-call vote. The central element of the overhaul is the reintroduction of mandatory registration (Musterung) for all young men in a specific age cohort, although the actual military service remains voluntary for now. This mandatory process is slated to commence on July 1, 2027, initially targeting males born in 2008 and subsequent years. This delay is necessary to allow the Bundeswehr sufficient time to build up the substantial capacity required to manage the increased administrative demands. The new military service is designed with a minimum commitment of six months. Participants retain the option to extend their service beyond this period. Individuals who commit to serving for at least one year as temporary soldiers will receive compensation totaling 2,700 euros, which includes accommodation, informs by NT24.
During the parliamentary discussion, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) defended the initiative, clarifying that active military service would remain voluntary, provided the desired personnel targets are met. However, he emphasized the critical necessity of the reform, stating: "This state does not protect itself. That must be done by people who are ready to stand up for it, not by those who stand by the garden fence waiting for others to do it." Pistorius acknowledged that the introduction of a partial military conscription—potentially implemented via a lottery or other random selection method—could be triggered should the established personnel goals prove unattainable. Such a profound step would, however, require a separate resolution by the Bundestag. Given the drastic deterioration of the security situation brought about by the Russian aggression in Ukraine, increasing the personnel strength of the Bundeswehr is deemed indispensable, according to CDU defense politician Norbert Röttgen. He succinctly summarized the imperative: "We must be able to defend ourselves again, in order not to have to defend ourselves."
To fulfill commitments agreed upon within NATO against the backdrop of heightened Russian threat, the German government estimates the necessary overall strength, including the reserve component, to be 460,000 soldiers. The goal is to incrementally increase the number of active soldiers and servicewomen to approximately 260,000 by 2035, up from just over 184,000 recorded at the end of October. The Defense Ministry anticipates that the modernization will incur additional costs totaling 495 million euros for the upcoming year. These expenses are projected to escalate to 603 million euros in 2027, around 713 million euros in 2028, and reach 849 million euros by 2029. The specific introduction of mandatory registration starting July 2027 is budgeted at an extra 54 million euros. While the Greens, Left Party (Die Linke), and AfD opposed the plans for various reasons, Left Party member of parliament Desiree Becker encouraged young people who were organizing nationwide school strikes against the proposals, urging them: "Go out into the streets, strike today against the reintroduction of conscription. Inform yourselves about the right to conscientious objection and use it." Defense Minister Pistorius, conversely, expressed that he thought it was "terrific" that students and young people were striking and demonstrating, as it showed their willingness to engage.
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