Moscow: NATO is pushing for an increase in the number of German troops to as many as 240,000-260,000 people from 2030, Die Welt newspaper reported on Saturday, citing unnamed sources in the German army.
Currently Germany’s target number amounts to 203,000 troops, however the number of armed forces has been declining in recent years, and in 2024 amounted to 180,000 troops.
Meanwhile, Bundeswehr experts reportedly called the numbers required by NATO unrealistic primarily due to poor attractiveness of military service to German citizens. Up to 30% of those enrolled resign from the German armed forces after six months of service, the newspaper reported, citing Bundeswehr documents. Recruits reportedly complain about rudeness during training, service far from home and absence of career prospects. Thus, the German armed forces lose 4,000-5,000 people a year.
Universal military service in Germany was abolished in 2011. In early March, Florian Hahn, a member of the Bundestag from the Christian Social Union (CSU), called for the return of military service by the end of 2025 in connection with the aggravation of the foreign policy situation. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in March that there was a shortage of barracks to return universal military service as soon as possible and that it was necessary to first collect data on conscripts.
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