Germany Approves New Military Service Plan to Strengthen Armed Forces

Germany’s coalition government has agreed on a new military service plan aimed at expanding the Bundeswehr to approximately 260,000 troops by 2035. Under the plan, all 18-year-olds will complete a questionnaire assessing their willingness to serve, and from 2027, young men will also undergo a mandatory medical examination to determine their fitness for duty.

The initiative comes as Germany seeks to build Europe’s strongest conventional army, responding to concerns about a potential Russian attack. The Bundeswehr will grow by 20,000 personnel in the first year, eventually reaching between 255,000 and 260,000 active soldiers over the next decade, supplemented by around 200,000 reservists.

The plan is not without controversy: many young Germans are skeptical, particularly those aged 18 to 29, and opposition to mandatory service remains strong. Defence officials stress that the measure is preventive, aimed at strengthening deterrence and national security, rather than signaling immediate conflict.