Bloomberg: Merz government targets troop surge to counter rising threats

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is taking decisive steps to strengthen the Bundeswehr, unveiling a draft law on August 27 aimed at increasing recruitment amid rising security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The legislation, set for cabinet approval, keeps military service voluntary initially but includes a provision that could reinstate compulsory conscription if recruitment falls short, reversing the suspension of the draft in 2011. If approved by parliament, the law would take effect in January.

Bloomberg reports that the government aims to expand Germany’s armed forces by approximately 180,000 personnel, reaching a total of around 460,000. This target includes at least 260,000 active soldiers and around 200,000 reservists. As part of the initiative, 18-year-old men will be required to complete a questionnaire assessing their health, skills, and willingness to serve—an effort to encourage engagement with the military.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius expressed confidence that the government can make military service appealing enough to avoid mandatory conscription, which is common in some NATO and EU countries. “It’s not about sending anyone to any front line, quite the opposite,” Pistorius told Deutschlandfunk radio. “A strong Bundeswehr within NATO contributes to effective deterrence, so that no one has to go to war. It’s about deterring anyone who might attack us.”

Since taking office in May, Merz has prioritised rebuilding and expanding Germany’s long-neglected armed forces, pledging to make the Bundeswehr Europe’s strongest conventional military. While the coalition government of Merz’s CDU/CSU and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil’s Social Democrats has effectively exempted defence spending from national borrowing limits, the shortage of personnel and limited interest among young Germans in military careers remain key challenges.

To highlight the law’s importance, the cabinet will meet at the defence ministry on Wednesday—marking the first time since 1992 that a cabinet session has been held outside the chancellery.

However, some conservative allies of Merz argue the draft does not go far enough. They have called for a provision to automatically trigger conscription if voluntary recruitment fails. Thomas Erndl, a Bundestag lawmaker for the CDU/CSU, said he plans to push for changes in parliament.

“We will not allow it to pass without significant changes,” Erndl told the Tagesspiegel. “The Bundeswehr should say how many personnel it needs to fulfil its tasks and then be guaranteed this number—no more, but also no less.”

By Tamilla Hasanova