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.
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The U.S. on Saturday welcomed the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, which ended weeks of deadly border clashes, and called on both countries to fully implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement.
Japan’s tourism sector has experienced a slowdown after China’s government advised its citizens to reconsider travel to Japan, following remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.
Italian authorities have arrested nine people on suspicion of financing Hamas through Italy based charities, prosecutors said on Saturday, in an operation coordinated by anti mafia and anti terrorism units.
New York placed the state under emergency measures on Friday as a powerful winter storm brought the heaviest snowfall since 2022, disrupting travel across the north-east of the United States.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck offshore near Taiwan’s north-eastern county of Yilan late on Saturday, shaking buildings across the island, including in the capital Taipei, authorities said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United States ahead of talks with President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war, as Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine overnight on Saturday, killing at least two people and injuring more than 40.
Brigitte Bardot, the French actress whose barefoot mambo in And God Created Woman propelled her to international fame and reshaped female sexuality on screen, has died at the age of 91, her foundation said on Sunday.
Iran is engaged in a “comprehensive war” with the United States, Israel, and Europe, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Saturday.
Voters in Myanmar began casting ballots on Sunday in a general election organised by the ruling military government, the first since a 2021 coup plunged the country into civil war, amid widespread doubts over the credibility of the vote.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck offshore near Taiwan’s north-eastern county of Yilan late on Saturday, shaking buildings across the island, including in the capital Taipei, authorities said.
China has connected the world’s largest offshore solar power project to its national grid, marking a significant step in the country’s push to expand renewable energy generation.
The U.S. on Saturday welcomed the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, which ended weeks of deadly border clashes, and called on both countries to fully implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement.
Japan’s tourism sector has experienced a slowdown after China’s government advised its citizens to reconsider travel to Japan, following remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.
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