A senior German official has voiced concern that proposed plans for a voluntary military service may not be sufficient to address escalating security challenges. Florian Hahn, a State Minister in the Federal Foreign Office, expressed skepticism in a recent podcast interview regarding the adequacy of a voluntary system given the perceived threat and ongoing military build-up in Russia. He argued the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, needs to expand its personnel more rapidly and that the nation needs to accelerate its defense preparedness.
Hahn emphasized the necessity of taking the threat emanating from Moscow seriously, stating it is consistently growing. He warned that Russia’s leadership would likely seek a moment to act when the disparity between its own strength and the ability of potential adversaries to defend themselves is at its greatest. Consequently, he advocated for a comprehensive European effort to minimize this perceived imbalance.
The State Minister also highlighted a concerning trend of diminishing defense capabilities, attributable to significant military aid provided to Ukraine. He noted that while substantial quantities of equipment, ammunition, spare parts and weapons systems have been supplied to support Ukraine, Germany has been unable to adequately replenish its own stockpiles, leading to a potential stagnation or even decline in its defensive capacity. This inability to restock resources poses a significant challenge to maintaining a robust and prepared defense force.
