Germany's armed forces have drawn intense public scrutiny this week as the country scrambles to expand its military in response to European security threats. The governing coalition clashed over whether to bring back mandatory military service, with Defence Minister Boris Pistorius defending the current voluntary system and pointing to troop numbers reaching a 13-year high of roughly 190,000.
Conservative partners remained unconvinced, as CSU leader Markus Söder demanded the reinstatement of genuine conscription and senior CDU MP Norbert Röttgen dismissed the optimism. Meanwhile, new figures revealed that applications for conscientious objection nearly tripled since June to reach 16,869 this year as young people pre-emptively opt out.
Pistorius also presented a bleak study on unreported sexual misconduct surveying over 8,000 troops, which revealed that 72 percent of women soldiers and 31 percent of men had experienced verbal sexual harassment. In response, Pistorius pledged zero tolerance and unveiled a 34-point action plan featuring an independent 24/7 counselling centre, recurring prevention training, and specialist disciplinary lawyers, though critics argued an external investigative body was needed.
The Bundeswehr attempted a public-relations experiment by launching an official online merchandise shop featuring standard hoodies and a camouflage-patterned rubber duck clutching the army's new G95 assault rifle. The item sold out immediately and crashed the website, but Left Party leader Sören Pellmann accused the military of inappropriately trivialising a dangerous profession.
The military also cracked down on security and espionage threats by banning inexpensive Chinese drones used for target practice in favour of European models. Furthermore, certain vehicles made by Chinese manufacturers such as BYD, Geely, and NIO are now barred from entering secure zones and sensitive installations over surveillance fears.
Despite internal turmoil and PR missteps, politicians signed off on the federal budget for 2027 following an all-night parliamentary reconciliation session. The budget locked in €109.75 billion for the Defence Ministry, topped up by nearly €30 billion from a special military fund.
Source: The Local. Read the original report ↗