BORIS PISTORIUS: German Defense Minister assesses troops in 2023 Photo credit: CC/Dr. Frank Gaeth
Germany's main opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) voted to add military service to its program.
Should the party return to power, the party would do its best to introduce a law forcing young people to serve for a year in the armed forces or in the community.
The CDU's willingness to reintroduce a system that ended in 2011 is based on unrest over Russia, coupled with declining numbers of members of the German armed forces. There are currently 181,383 soldiers, far from the 2025 target of 203,000.
The call plan is also not limited to the CDU.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who belongs to the ruling center-left Social Democrats (SPD), announced that he will make a decision this summer based on some form of military service.
Pistorius has already shown a preference for the Swedish call-up system, which he described as “particularly suitable” for Germany's needs.
Sweden abolished military conscription in 2010 but reintroduced it in 2017, largely prompted by Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.
All Swedish young people must report for an assessment upon reaching the age of 18, after which some are recalled for a medical check-up. Between 5 and 10 percent eventually enter military service, which is voluntary. Sweden also reintroduced mandatory community service at the end of 2023.
“Whether something like this could also be conceivable here is part of our considerations,” Pistorius said.
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