The €52 billion (over SEK 560 billion) that is expected to be finalized soon for 29 military procurement contracts is part of the modernization of Germany's neglected defense. In addition, measures are being taken to encourage more people to join the army.
The efforts come at a time when the United States wants Europe to take greater responsibility for the NATO defense alliance by 2027, with Germany at the forefront.
Now Germany plans to spend 22 billion euros on basic military equipment and clothing, 4.2 billion on the Puma armored vehicle, three billion on Arrow 3 air defense missiles and 1.6 billion on surveillance satellites, according to sources with insight, Bloomberg reports.
Men should be drafted
But it's not just equipment that's needed, it's also more soldiers. According to NATO, Germany should have a total military strength of 460,000 men, of whom 260,000 are active and the rest are reservists. Currently, the number is nowhere near that, with 182,000 active soldiers and around 49,000 reservists.
The Bundeswehr must grow. The international security situation, especially Russia's aggressive behavior, makes it necessary, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said last week, AP reports.
Therefore, all German 18-year-old men must now undergo conscription, the Bundestag has decided . The bill will also be taken up in the Bundesrat before Christmas.
If the Minister of Defense gets his way, the change will lead to 20,000 more active soldiers in the coming year. To achieve this goal, the government is offering, among other things, a starting salary that is more than five times higher than before.
2030s
But it may take time to reach that many recruits.
If the plans to reach the new staff number are realized, it will be fantastic for Europe, but it will probably happen sometime in the 2030s, Minna Ålander at the think tank Chatham House told CNN .
Germany previously had compulsory military service for men aged 18–23, but this was abolished in 2011.
According to the new bill, which has been met with protests, from January 2026 all 18-year-olds will be given a questionnaire asking them whether they are interested in joining the military. For men, answering the question is mandatory, for women it is voluntary.
Starting in July 2027, all 18-year-old men will undergo conscription.
