Bundeswehr reform: 60,000 new soldiers and the return of conscription!

Bundeswehr reform: 60,000 new soldiers and the return of conscription!

In the middle of growing geopolitical tensions and changing threats, in particular by Russia, the debate about the future structure of the Bundeswehr is increasingly becoming an course of driving. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) made it clear at a NATO defense ministerial meeting in Brussels that the Bundeswehr needs up to 60,000 additional soldiers to meet new NATO planning goals and to meet the requirements of modern defense. However, Pistorius expressed concerns about the sufficient availability of voluntary recruits.

Norbert Röttgen, deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, sees a necessity in returning to a compulsory element in the new military service. He demands that the legal requirements for a corresponding military service model will be created this year. Röttgen emphasizes that the coalition is aiming for a qualified and attractive military service that initially relies on voluntariness, but also has to provide a plan B with a compulsory element.

the need for a new military service model

The Bundeswehr currently has around 181,600 soldiers and 34,000 active reservists, but the number of soldiers has been stagnating for years. The target of 203,300 soldiers is clearly missed. Experts, including the chairman of the Bundeswehr Association, are therefore vehemently demanding a compulsory element in order to cover the personnel requirement. In fact, a need for around 460,000 soldiers and reservists will be predicted for the coming years, which underlines the urgency of the discussion.

In view of the financial framework, which was created by the abolition of the debt brake for defense spending, Pistorius sees the opportunity to contribute a bill to the new military service to the cabinet until the parliamentary summer break. Critics within the traffic light coalition, in particular from the SPD, face the reintroduction of conscription and continue to rely on voluntariness.

The structure of the new military service

The planned new military service model stipulates that men have to fill out a questionnaire for fitness and willingness for the service. A fine is planned for non -income. According to estimates, around 5,000 additional soldiers could be obtained annually by the new model. The recording of the military capable, which has been neglected since the suspension of conscription in 2011, is now to be restored. In around 400,000 young men who live to be 18 annually, an interest is accepted by a quarter of a service in the Bundeswehr.

The compulsory conscription is mainly fueled by the deteriorated personnel position and the need to strengthen the Bundeswehr. There are considerations that the duty may also be expanded to women, which would require a change in the Basic Law. This comes across different resistance, not only in the coalition, but also in society.

Due to the different points of view and the pressing questions that are necessary to improve the defense capacity of Germany, the topic remains of central importance for the security policy of the coming years href = "https://www.ostsee-zeitung.de/politik/60,000-neue-soldaten-wehrwandsprung Mloobgpvezgcb4sissdhy.html? Mst_prev_website = oz & mst_prev_page_id =%2farchive%2f & mst_prev_link_type = frontpage " Target = "_ blank"> Ostsee-Zeitung , Süddeutsche , Tagesschau .