The Bundestag (German parliament) has voted in favor of a bill that would increase the size of the armed forces to about 260,000 soldiers instead of the current 180,000, as well as an additional 200,000 reservists, by 2035. The news was reported by CNN and BBC on Friday, December 5.
The government says that military service will be voluntary for as long as possible, but starting in July 2027, all 18-year-old men will have to undergo a medical examination to assess their fitness for military service. In particular, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that medical examinations will be necessary so that in the event of an attack, Germany does not waste time determining "who is operationally capable of defending the homeland and who is not."
"Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, currently have about 182,000 troops, and Pistorius wants to increase that number by 20,000 over the next year. The long-term goal is to increase the number by the early 2030s to 260,000, supplemented by about 200,000 reservists, to meet the new NATO force goals and strengthen Germany's defense," the article says.
Girls can also undergo these procedures if they wish. 323 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill, 272 voted against, and one abstained. Germany has become the latest European country to launch a military service reform. Although the plan provides for voluntary service, in case of a deterioration in the security situation or if there are not enough volunteers, the Bundestag may consider a form of compulsory military service.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on October 13, the head of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) Martin Jaeger said that the aggressor country russia intends to "test the strength" of the European Union's borders.
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