German Defense Ministry Contemplates Return of Military Conscription

17 December, 2023 Illustration photo of Bundeswehr soldiers. Photo from open sources Germany debates reintroducing military conscription.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated this in his interview with the Welt newspaper. Pistorius has urged Europe to take seriously the Russian threats to Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. "Europe should be ready for a possible threat from Russia.

This is especially relevant because it is quite possible that the US may shift its activity from Europe to the Pacific region," he said. Pistorius added that Europeans must strengthen their defense commitments to guarantee security on the continent.

Illustration photo of Bundeswehr soldiers. Photo from open sources

"Now we have about five to eight years to catch up - both in the armed forces, in industry and society," the minister continued.

The minister noted that he is also studying models of compulsory military service. According to Pistorius, the abolition of conscription in Germany was a mistake. "It is structurally, constitutionally and politically difficult to re-introduce conscription now," he said.

Therefore, the minister draws attention to other models of military service, for example, the Swedish one.

Illustration photo of Bundeswehr soldiers. Photo from open sources

"There, all young men and women are drafted into the army, and only a few of them do conscript service," Pistorius continued. In 2011, Militarnyi reported on the abolition of conscription in Germany.

Amid the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, NATO member states are introducing conscription or extending its duration.