Germany Considers Mandatory Military Conscription if Needed

Germany may reintroduce mandatory military conscription if voluntary recruitment fails to meet national defense targets, according to senior government officials.

Chancellery Chief of Staff Thorsten Frei of the Christian Democratic Union said on German broadcaster ZDF that there would be no major difficulties within the ruling coalition in agreeing on compulsory service should the need arise.

He noted that such a step would require approval from the Bundestag, but stressed that this would not be a complicated process if coalition parties were aligned on the objective.

The German cabinet approved a draft law on Wednesday aimed at boosting the number of soldiers in the Bundeswehr. The priority will be to expand voluntary enlistment, but the legislation allows for conscription if recruitment goals are not met.

Under new NATO defense requirements, Germany must raise its active-duty military personnel to at least 260,000, supported by a reserve force of 200,000.

Compulsory service would not be introduced automatically, however, and would still require additional parliamentary approval. The Social Democratic Party underlined this safeguard during cabinet discussions.