Bavarian Leader Pushes for Return of Mandatory Army Service in Germany
His remarks come after Germany introduced a voluntary military service framework beginning January 1, a move that has sparked public debate and protests. Critics of the policy argue it could eventually lead to the return of full conscription, which was previously abolished in 2011 under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Söder stated in an interview that if Germany intends to build what he described as Europe’s largest army, mandatory service would be unavoidable. He added that relying solely on volunteers would not meet the country’s security requirements and urged that compulsory service be reinstated as soon as possible.
The CSU, which is part of the governing coalition led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, supports strengthening military capacity. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Germany has significantly expanded recruitment goals, aiming to grow the Bundeswehr from roughly 186,000 active personnel to around 260,000 troops, alongside approximately 200,000 reservists by the 2030s, citing security concerns related to Russia.
Moscow, however, has repeatedly rejected allegations that it poses a threat to NATO members. Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed such claims as unfounded, while Russia’s Foreign Ministry has warned that escalating military expansion in Europe risks destabilizing global security.
At the same time, European defense officials have also raised the possibility of reviving conscription across the continent. The head of the European Defense Agency suggested that several EU states, including Germany, may eventually move in this direction.
Some European countries, including Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Croatia, and the United Kingdom, have already reinstated or expanded military service obligations or reserve requirements.
Russian officials continue to criticize what they describe as growing militarization in Western countries, arguing that NATO’s expansion toward Russian borders has contributed to rising tensions surrounding the Ukraine conflict.
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