Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for 18-Year-Olds Amid Rising Security Concerns
Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to introduce voluntary military service, marking a major shift in the country’s defense policy following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The move is part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plan to build Europe’s strongest conventional army.
Starting January 2026, all 18-year-olds will receive a mandatory questionnaire asking if they are interested in joining the armed forces. The form will be compulsory for men and voluntary for women. From July 2027, all 18-year-old men will undergo medical examinations to assess their fitness for possible military service.
The decision has sparked widespread opposition among students, with strikes planned in as many as 90 cities. Protesters argue that compulsory training promotes drill and obedience, offering little benefit while disrupting young people’s lives.
Currently, Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, have around 182,000 personnel, with plans to increase the number to 260,000 by the early 2030s, supplemented by 200,000 reservists. The government says that while service is voluntary, compulsory measures could be considered if too few volunteers come forward or if security thr+ats escalate.
Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to introduce voluntary military service, marking a major shift in the country’s defense policy following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The move is part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plan to build Europe’s strongest conventional army.
Starting January 2026, all 18-year-olds will receive a mandatory questionnaire asking if they are interested in joining the armed forces. The form will be compulsory for men and voluntary for women. From July 2027, all 18-year-old men will undergo medical examinations to assess their fitness for possible military service.
The decision has sparked widespread opposition among students, with strikes planned in as many as 90 cities. Protesters argue that compulsory training promotes drill and obedience, offering little benefit while disrupting young people’s lives.
Currently, Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, have around 182,000 personnel, with plans to increase the number to 260,000 by the early 2030s, supplemented by 200,000 reservists. The government says that while service is voluntary, compulsory measures could be considered if too few volunteers come forward or if security thr+ats escalate.
Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for 18-Year-Olds Amid Rising Security Concerns
Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to introduce voluntary military service, marking a major shift in the country’s defense policy following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The move is part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plan to build Europe’s strongest conventional army.
Starting January 2026, all 18-year-olds will receive a mandatory questionnaire asking if they are interested in joining the armed forces. The form will be compulsory for men and voluntary for women. From July 2027, all 18-year-old men will undergo medical examinations to assess their fitness for possible military service.
The decision has sparked widespread opposition among students, with strikes planned in as many as 90 cities. Protesters argue that compulsory training promotes drill and obedience, offering little benefit while disrupting young people’s lives.
Currently, Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, have around 182,000 personnel, with plans to increase the number to 260,000 by the early 2030s, supplemented by 200,000 reservists. The government says that while service is voluntary, compulsory measures could be considered if too few volunteers come forward or if security thr+ats escalate.
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