Berlin pushes sweeping defense reforms to expand troop numbers amid rising security fears, shifting U.S. policy and Russia’s ongoing aggression.
Germany is moving a step closer to one of its most ambitious security overhauls in decades, as the government advances a sweeping conscription bill designed to expand the country’s armed forces and strengthen Europe’s military posture.
The proposal, agreed by coalition partners last week, is central to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s pledge to develop “Europe’s strongest conventional army.” The plan comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags on, analysts warn of broader regional risks, and the Trump administration continues to press Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defense.
Under the reforms, Berlin aims to increase the Bundeswehr’s active force to 260,000 troops by 2035, up from around 180,000 today, alongside roughly 200,000 reservists. The initial emphasis will be on voluntary enlistment, supported by new incentives including a higher monthly starting salary of €2,600 ($3,000).
If recruitment goals fall short, the government would have the authority to introduce mandatory call-ups. Beginning next year, all 18-year-olds will receive questionnaires assessing their interest in service. Responses will be compulsory for men, who may also be required to undergo medical assessments from 2027.
The reforms reflect growing alarm across Europe. NATO officials have warned that Moscow could test the alliance’s defenses within the next few years. Germany’s chief of defense, Gen. Carsten Breuer, recently said NATO must prepare for the possibility of Russian aggression before decade’s end.
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The debate in Berlin has been politically fraught. Coalition parties spent weeks arguing over what form conscription should take, with one proposal—based on a lottery system for selecting recruits—ultimately rejected by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in favor of a model focused on incentives rather than compulsion.
Germany suspended mandatory military service in 2011, shifting to an all-volunteer force. But decades of underinvestment, combined with rising geopolitical tensions, have reshaped public and political attitudes. Berlin has already committed €100 billion ($115 billion), to modernize the Bundeswehr and revived a public Veterans Day for the first time since World War II.
Still, the new plan faces resistance. Polling shows strong opposition among Germany’s political left, and many young people interviewed by local media express reluctance to serve. Applications for conscientious objector status have also surged since discussions on conscription resumed.
Analysts say Germany’s large population could allow voluntary recruitment to meet targets if the military improves its public image. But they warn that imposing obligatory service on a skeptical public could deepen political polarization.
The bill is expected to reach the Bundestag by year-end, with implementation planned for January 2026 if approved. Officials argue that strengthening the Bundeswehr is essential for deterrence—and for keeping Europe secure in an increasingly uncertain era.