Germany will decide in mid-2027 whether to reintroduce mandatory military service.

Germany is facing significant difficulties in recruiting soldiers, and parliamentarian Thomas Röwekamp announced that the decision to reintroduce mandatory military service must be made by July 2027. Chancellor Friedrich Merz also proposes to build the strongest conventional army in Europe, increasing the number of career soldiers from 185,000 to 260,000 by 2035.

Although a voluntary military service and mandatory registration for 18-year-olds have been implemented, the results are disappointing, with only 530 volunteers recruited in the first five months of the year. Röwekamp emphasized that if the objectives are not met through voluntary recruitment, the reintroduction of mandatory military service will be inevitable. He acknowledged the concerns of young people regarding military service, mentioning the need for a dialogue on security issues.

In the context of Russian threats, Röwekamp highlighted the importance of developing European military capabilities independent of the United States. The NATO summit in July could address these issues, and Röwekamp hopes it will reaffirm the unity of the alliance in the face of external challenges.