The German Armed Forces Federal Association (Bundwehrverband) has criticized recent decisions regarding a potential new conscription model adopted at the SPD party conference, describing them as reckless.
Association Chairman André Wüstner told “Der Spiegel” that many within the SPD appear to still lack clarity regarding the significant challenges stemming from Europe’s fragile security landscape, the evolving threat environment and the resultant military and personnel requirements.
Wüstner emphasized that a revised conscription model is not a universal solution to address the Bundeswehr’s ongoing personnel shortages. The force is facing a substantial increase in its requirement, projected to rise from approximately 180,000 to 260,000 soldiers in the coming years, driven by new NATO objectives. He stated that relying solely on voluntary recruitment will be insufficient to meet this rapid expansion of roughly 80,000 personnel.
While the SPD party conference averted a major dispute concerning the new service, the party has placed limitations on Defence Minister Boris Pistorius’s proposed legislation. A party resolution stipulates that a legally enforceable option to activate conscripts should not be implemented until all measures to increase voluntary recruitment have been fully explored.
Minister Pistorius had initially sought to include a clause allowing for a gradual transition towards a greater element of compulsory service if voluntary recruitment numbers fall short. However, any such transition would necessitate approval from both the cabinet and the Bundestag.
Despite the SPD’s decision, the Bundeswehrverband is urging policymakers to prioritize critical decisions beyond the focus on conscription. They are demanding that all decisions relating to the planned expansion to 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists be finalized by late summer. This includes a coordinated plan for expanding the force, constructing new barracks (in double-digit numbers), procuring necessary equipment and significantly enhancing the appeal of military service as a career to attract and retain sufficient personnel.
