Germany is planning to introduce a voluntary six-month military service aimed at doubling the number of reservists from around 100,000 to 200,000, according to a report by Reuters. The initiative is part of Berlin’s broader strategy to strengthen its armed forces amidst heightened security concerns following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Since then, the country has intensified its military preparations, citing the ‘threat’ posed by Russia, though Moscow has repeatedly dismissed these claims as ‘nonsense’ and accused Western leaders of stoking fear to justify increased defense spending.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to make the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, the ‘strongest army’ on the continent. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has indicated plans for a ‘drastic increase’ in military spending, potentially reaching up to €90 billion ($102 billion) by 2028. The government’s hope is that a voluntary six-month service will attract enough recruits to meet its targets. However, if the program fails to produce the desired number of reservists, sources have suggested Berlin may consider reinstating conscription, a measure that has not been in place since 2011.
The proposed service would involve volunteers learning ‘simple tasks’ such as guard duty while being offered the chance to gain licenses for roles like tank or truck driver. The government hopes that some of these volunteers may eventually pursue careers in the military. Pistorius has set a target for the legislation to be passed by the end of August, enabling the first volunteers to begin training in May 2026.
German defense officials have stated that the Bundeswehr needs to increase its active duty troops from around 180,000 to 260,000 to meet NATO targets. This announcement occurred ahead of the recent NATO summit, where members agreed to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Russian officials have criticized the growing militarization in Germany and other Western European nations, urging them to support U.S.-led peace initiatives for the Ukraine conflict instead of escalating tensions with Moscow.