Watching the Kremlin’s warlike ambitions, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is leaning towards mandatory conscription for all 18-year-olds, as reported by the Sunday edition of the British newspaper Telegraph, citing sources from German media.
In addition to men, the German ministry is considering the possibility of recruiting women to bolster the number of armed forces in the “Eurozone engine”.
The “Sunday Telegraph,” citing sources from the newspaper “Die Welt,” reports on the plans laid out to strengthen the German armed forces (Bundeswehr) as much as possible.
Military experts in Berlin are in the final stage of discussing three options, two of which involve a form of conscription.
As leaked to German media, the German Defense Minister is expected to unveil the final plans by June.
One of the options proposed for discussion is as follows: Germany to reintroduce mandatory military service – for one year – for men as soon as they reach adulthood, something that was in effect until 2011.
What’s interesting is that this option also applies to women, which would, however, require an amendment to the German Constitution.
The German Defense Minister believes that it could receive the green light from the federal parliament Bundestag, as it would align with the country’s public opinion.
Another option would apply only to 18-year-old men, but not to everyone.
Initially, 18-year-olds would have to fill out an electronic form, and then the selection for conscription would take place, according to information leaked to the newspaper Die Welt.
The Ministry of Defense sees this as “a strong message” both to allies and adversaries, as commented by the German publication.
The third option would avoid mandatory military service, instead focusing on “optimizing” the current system through participation in more recruitment campaigns.
However, Boris Pistorius is reportedly against the latter option.
During a trip to Washington this week, he stated, “I am convinced that Germany needs a form of military conscription.”
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Pistorius, often seen as the most popular politician in Germany according to polls, has in the past described the decision to suspend mandatory conscription as wrong.
The possible reintroduction of this measure comes as the number of soldiers retiring exceeds the number of new recruits hired to replace them.
Moreover, Berlin has also set a goal to increase the size of its armed forces from around 180,000 today to over 200,000.
The German Ministry of Defense reportedly believes that this goal cannot be achieved without some form of conscription.
However, many ministers and members of the governing coalition do not agree with Pistorius’s plans.
First and foremost, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz disagrees with such a move, as he has repeatedly stated. Nevertheless, many ministers and members of his party, the Social Democrats, as well as the Greens (coalition partners), view the Defense Minister’s plans favorably.
Opposed to Boris Pistorius’s military plans is the Free Democratic Party (FDP) of the Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner.
