Germany is facing a critical decision over whether to bring back mandatory military service, as voluntary efforts to strengthen the Bundeswehr continue to fall short. The government aims to expand the army to 260,000 soldiers by 2035, up from 185,000 according to various outlets
However, a new voluntary scheme attracted only 530 recruits between January and May, despite contacting roughly 300,000 young men. Defense Committee Chairman Thomas Röwekamp stated that a final decision “must be taken by July 31 of next year,” adding that he has “serious doubts” voluntary recruitment alone can meet targets.
He warned that Russia threatens “liberal Western democracy as a whole” and urged Europe to develop independent military capabilities amid U.S. unpredictability. Britain, for instance, has already started designing cheap long-range missiles that could be sent to Ukraine without relying on components from the United States.
