Germany is intensifying efforts to recruit military personnel by offering free driving licenses and a monthly stipend of €2,600, responding to escalating tensions with Russia. The decision follows pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump to increase European defense spending, particularly in Germany, which has become a focal point for U.S.-European strategic cooperation.
Germany’s coalition government, comprising the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democrats, has agreed to a new system of incentives for voluntary military service after a heated debate last week to address the growing Russian threat to the European continent. The move has been met with approval from some quarters, as the government seeks to modernize its armed forces and increase its readiness to counter potential aggression from Moscow.
The incentives to generate recruitment include free access to driving licenses, which can cost several thousand euros. Additionally, the existing pre-tax salary at the starting level has been increased to around €3,000 a month. These measures are intended to make military service more appealing to young Germans, particularly in light of the ongoing security challenges posed by Russia’s military buildup along Europe’s eastern borders.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has been at the helm of Germany’s government since the start of his tenure, has emphasized the need to transform Germany’s armed forces into