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Boris Pistorius: Volunteer Bundeswehr despite falling numbers of soldiers!
Defense Minister Pistorius is aiming for 203,000 soldiers, despite falling numbers and debates about conscription in Germany.
Boris Pistorius: Volunteer Bundeswehr despite falling numbers of soldiers!
In the current discussion about the German Bundeswehr, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is in the spotlight. His goal of increasing troop strength to 203,000 soldiers is complicated by the reality of declining numbers to just 181,000. Despite intensive advertising campaigns and lowered requirements, new advertising did not reach the desired level. This poses major challenges for the federal government, as, according to NATO, Germany needs at least 50,000 to 60,000 additional active soldiers to meet the requirements az-online.de reported.
Although there are differences within the black-red coalition over a possible return to compulsory military service, which was abolished in 2011, the coalition agreement does not contain a clear plan for this. Jens Spahn, the Union parliamentary group leader, is committed to creating the foundations of compulsory service, while the SPD firmly rejects it. Pistorius' main focus is on a new, attractive military service that is based on voluntary participation. However, he emphasizes that the infrastructure for compulsory military service does not currently exist.
Controversies and demands within NATO
In parallel to these developments, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague that the two percent of gross domestic product for defense agreed in 2014 is now being met by member states. Merkur.de reports that Portugal and Canada, among others, are spending 2% of their GDP on defense this year. This achievement of the two percent target shows a certain unity within NATO, while US President Donald Trump is loudly exerting more pressure and, as he is demanding, even wants to invest 5% in defense in the future.
The need for Germany to adapt to NATO's requirements is obvious. Whether Pistorius' approach with voluntary military service will be sufficient remains questionable. There are currently 182,064 soldiers serving in the Bundeswehr. However, in order to ensure that the planned new large units are fully operational, significant increases in personnel are still necessary. At the same time, an exception to the debt brake for defense spending is being sought in order to realize these ambitious plans.
The discussion about compulsory military service remains as exciting as it is controversial. The Bundestag's new military commissioner, Henning Otte, is open to considering compulsory military service. The topic remains on the political agenda and will certainly provide further topics of conversation in the near future.