(MENAFN) German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for a nationwide discussion on reinstating military conscription, emphasizing the urgent need to bolster the country's armed forces in light of increasing security risks across Europe.

Although Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011, the legal framework enabling a draft remains in place and could be reactivated by a parliamentary majority. However, fully reintroducing conscription—including for women—would require constitutional amendments.

In an interview with ZDF on Sunday, Steinmeier warned that relying solely on voluntary enlistment might not meet the army’s personnel needs.

“I am an advocate of conscription because I believe that with the changing security situation in Europe, with the fact that a war is taking place, and with the conclusions we have drawn from it to better protect ourselves, the personnel equipment of the Bundeswehr also needs to be adapted,” he said.

Steinmeier backed Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’ plan to increase troop numbers and establish a reserve draft system. This strategy targets recruiting about 5,000 volunteers yearly, aiming to expand to 30,000 by 2029.

Draft legislation, scheduled for cabinet review in August and potentially effective by early 2026, would trigger automatic reinstatement of conscription if volunteer enlistment falls short.

“We need this debate now, preferably with a positive outcome, so that if there are not enough volunteers, we will probably return to a different form of conscription than the one we have already abolished,” Steinmeier added.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has intensified efforts to strengthen its military, citing heightened threats from Moscow. Russia, however, has dismissed accusations of planning attacks on NATO countries as “nonsense,” accusing Western leaders of stoking fears to justify increased defense spending.

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