Currently, the German Constitution does not allow compulsory military service for women, meaning constitutional changes would be\u00a0required. Merz emphasized that suspending conscription in\u00a02011\u00a0was, in\u00a0retrospect, a\u00a0mistake.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, the federal cabinet approved a\u00a0draft law to\u00a0expand the Bundeswehr by\u00a0several tens of\u00a0thousands of\u00a0soldiers. <\/p>\n
The plan, developed by\u00a0Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, is\u00a0based largely on\u00a0voluntary service, with no\u00a0immediate reintroduction of\u00a0mandatory conscription. However, the government has acknowledged that a\u00a0return to\u00a0conscription could be\u00a0considered if\u00a0recruitment goals are not\u00a0met.<\/p>\n
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Germany Unveils Largest Military Reform in\u00a0Decades, Expanding Land, Air, and Space Capabilities<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Jul 30, 2025 13:33\n <\/p>\n
The Bundeswehr currently has more than 182,000 soldiers, while the government\u2019s target is\u00a0at\u00a0least 260,000. Critics, including the Bundeswehr Association, have expressed doubts about whether such numbers can be\u00a0reached through voluntary enlistment alone.<\/p>\n
Merz also highlighted the security challenge posed by\u00a0Russia. He\u00a0said that Vladimir Putin\u2019s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine and warned of\u00a0potential territorial claims affecting Germany. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u00a0wants to\u00a0restore the old Soviet Union. And that includes part of\u00a0my\u00a0country,\u201d Merz stated. He\u00a0added that Germany must be\u00a0prepared for a\u00a0prolonged period of\u00a0confrontation with an\u00a0aggressive Russian regime.<\/p>\n
On\u00a0nuclear deterrence, the chancellor underlined Germany\u2019s reliance on\u00a0the US\u00a0nuclear umbrella while also expressing openness to\u00a0discussions on\u00a0joint use of\u00a0France\u2019s nuclear arsenal. \u201cI\u00a0do\u00a0not want to\u00a0lead us\u00a0into an\u00a0additional new dependency,\u201d Merz said.<\/p>\n
Earlier in\u00a0July, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed<\/a> that Berlin had requested US-made Typhon missile systems capable of\u00a0reaching targets up\u00a0to\u00a02,500 kilometers away, including deep inside Russia. While emphasizing the system\u2019s defensive purpose, Pistorius said the Typhon would serve as\u00a0a\u00a0stopgap until joint European missile programs mature.<\/p>\n
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