The German Minister of Defense does not rule out the possibility of returning to conscription, as Germany tries to strengthen its military force.
Germany could consider reintroducing military conscription as early as next year if it does not attract enough volunteers for its armed forces, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on Saturday.
As part of the NATO alliance, Germany is trying to bolster its military force following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but it appears that it will not be able to attract enough recruits.
The German armed forces have stated that an additional 100,000 soldiers are needed in the coming years to fulfill NATO obligations.
The conservatives, who lead a coalition in which Pistorius' Social Democrats (SPD) are junior partners, have boosted military spending and shown openness to compulsory service in the armed forces, which was abolished in 2011.
The SPD has always focused more on voluntary options for rebuilding the army.
"Our model is initially based on voluntary participation," Pistorius said in an interview. "If there comes a time when we have more capacity available than voluntary registrations, then we may decide to make it mandatory," he added.
A new bill in this regard could come into effect starting January 1, 2026, he said.
Andreas Henne, commander of Germany's Internal Security Division, also supported recruitment campaigns on Saturday. "We have taken the right path, but now we need to increase the pace. In terms of equipment, expanding infrastructure, and above all, personnel," Henne said in an interview with the t-online news website.