Germany allows ‘voluntary’ army service for teens

(MENAFN) The German government has approved a draft law introducing voluntary military service for teenagers, as part of its broader efforts to expand the Bundeswehr and prepare the country for potential future conflicts. Officials have emphasized the need for Germany to be “ready for war” within the next decade.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently pledged to make the German military the strongest conventional force in Europe, while President Frank-Walter Steinmeier acknowledged that voluntary recruitment alone might not be enough to meet that target.

During a secure session at the Defense Ministry in Berlin, the cabinet endorsed a plan to enlist up to 40,000 young people annually by 2031. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius justified the move as necessary for credible deterrence against Russia, echoing NATO rhetoric about a possible Russian threat — a claim Moscow has dismissed as baseless.

Under the proposal, beginning in January 2026, all 18-year-old males would be asked to complete a voluntary questionnaire to assess their interest and eligibility for service. Women can also participate on a voluntary basis. Chosen candidates would receive at least six months of basic training. Initial recruitment is expected to reach 20,000 next year due to capacity limits, with gradual increases over time.

The draft legislation also includes provisions for potentially reinstating compulsory military service, which was suspended in 2011. Some critics argue that the draft should automatically be reactivated if the voluntary model fails. The plan still needs to pass through the Bundestag, where it may face amendments. CDU/CSU defense spokesman Thomas Erndl has already signaled that significant changes will be required.

Germany has substantially ramped up military spending since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022 and is now the second-largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the US. German-made Leopard tanks were used by Ukrainian forces during a cross-border operation into Russia’s Kursk Region.

Russian officials have strongly criticized Germany’s growing military role. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Berlin of being directly involved in the conflict and warned of historical parallels. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that Germany was “becoming dangerous again,” responding to Pistorius' recent comments about German troops being prepared to engage Russian forces if necessary.

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