Germany "expands" army - Up to 260,000 troops needed to meet NATO requirements
Germany will need up to 260,000 active-duty soldiers to meet growing NATO defense demands, the head of the country's military union has warned, a number significantly higher than the government's official target of 203,000.
This target was first set in 2016, long before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Since then, the German military has struggled to grow and currently has 181,500 troops.
"The number of 203,000 is outdated and no longer realistic," said the chairman of the Military Association, an influential interest group that supports the armed forces regarding equipment, personnel and working conditions.
"Depending on the decisions at the NATO summit, we will need 40,000 to 60,000 additional soldiers. This means that the active force will have to be gradually increased to 260,000 troops," the association's sources said.
NATO leaders will meet for a summit in The Hague on June 24-25, where the increase in the defense spending target will be discussed.
The association's warning comes just as the German government is planning a new voluntary military service program, part of efforts to address a chronic shortage of military personnel.
The program will ask all 18-year-old men to complete a questionnaire assessing their readiness and suitability for service. Women can participate voluntarily. The goal is to recruit about 5,000 volunteers per year.
The German Defense Ministry stressed that the program is "initially voluntary," but left the door open to taking more drastic steps in the future.
Germany suspended military conscription in 2011. Its reinstatement would mark a significant political shift.
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