Germany eyes mandatory draft amid army recruitment challenge
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the possibility of reinstating mandatory military service if the new voluntary system does not meet recruitment expectations.
What do you need to know?
- New military service model: Germany plans to introduce a modernized voluntary system to increase the size of the army.
- Possibility of mandatory draft: If voluntary registration does not yield the expected results, the government may consider reinstating the mandatory draft.
- Planned changes: The new military service law could come into effect as early as January 2026.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius outlined the timeline for the new military service model in an interview with "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung." The goal is to expand the size of the army through voluntary enlistment. Pistorius noted, however, that if this system does not meet expectations, reinstating the mandatory draft is possible.
"If the time comes when voluntary registration is not sufficient, then a decision on a mandatory draft may be made. This is the roadmap," he emphasized in an interview with the German press.
Germany considers mandatory draft
The debate on reinstating the draft, suspended in 2011, has intensified due to concerns about the country's defense readiness. This is also influenced by the changing security threats in Europe, especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government is working intensively on a new bill that is expected to come into effect in January 2026.
Minister Pistorius emphasized that the new military service model will also include efforts to engage more reservists.
