Germany’s cabinet approved a draft bill on Wednesday (August 27) to introduce voluntary military service, as Berlin seeks to strengthen national defence amid heightened security concerns over Russia.
The proposed six-month programme is designed to double the country’s pool of trained reservists, currently around 100,000, and encourage some participants to pursue careers in active service.
The draft will now head to parliament, where it is expected to face tough debate — a test of Germany’s resolve to reinforce its defences following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Compulsory conscription was abolished in 2011, and the Bundeswehr has since struggled to meet recruitment goals. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius aims to boost the force from 180,000 to 260,000 troops by the early 2030s, in line with NATO targets and rising security demands.
“The Bundeswehr must grow,” Pistorius told reporters. “Russia’s aggressive stance makes this necessary. We don’t just need a well-equipped force — we also need personnel strength. Only then will deterrence against Russia be truly credible.”
Under the plan, recruitment targets would rise from 20,000 in 2026 to 38,000 by 2030. Should those goals not be met, the government could consider reintroducing conscription, pending parliamentary approval.
Alongside the bill, the government announced the creation of a permanent National Security Council to improve long-term security planning. The body will replace the Federal Security Council and Security Cabinet, fulfilling a campaign pledge by Chancellor Friedrich Merz to refocus Germany’s security policy.
Merz also revealed he had agreed with French President Emmanuel Macron to take a decision on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project by year’s end. The multinational initiative seeks to deliver next-generation fighter jets and systems for European air forces.
World leaders gather in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s ...
Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, a se...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
Iran's military has threatened to launch sustained attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the Middle East if Washington resumes military action against Tehran.
Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday.
Overnight Russian strikes on the city of Sumy, northeast Ukraine, have killed one woman and injured a man, the country's State Emergency Service has said.
Russian parliamentary elections have delivered a comfortable win to the ruling United Russia party, which is closely aligned to President Vladimir Putin. With more than 95 per cent of ballots counted, United Russia has taken 57.83 per cent of the vote, up from the 49.8 per cent it won in 2021.
World leaders gather in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, with conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the week long high-level debate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for the abolition of veto powers and permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council, proposing a system in which all members would instead be elected for fixed terms.
Survivors of a Nigerian detention centre where 37 people died say guards sprayed an unidentified substance into an overcrowded cell and kept the doors locked while detainees struggled to breathe and cried for help.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 22 September 2026. These are five key bilateral and multilateral meetings taking place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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