Germany aims to establish a strong conventional military force in Europe

Germany to Establish Stronger Military, EU Nuclear Deterrent Amid Tensions with Russia

The German government has announced plans to build a stronger military, with a goal of becoming Europe’s strongest conventional army since World War II. As part of this effort, the country is introducing a compulsory questionnaire for 18-year-old men to assess their fitness for potential army service.

Under the new law, active duty personnel have increased by 2,500 since May, reaching 184,000 troops. The government is offering generous salaries and benefits to voluntary service members on 23-month contracts, with the option to extend to indefinite professional service. The pay package includes a salary of €2,600 ($3,000) and free housing and medical insurance.

Germany has made a commitment to NATO to reach 260,000 active duty personnel by 2035 and double its reservists to 200,000. This would bring the country’s military close to its pre-Cold War size.

The move has been met with concern from Russia, which views Germany’s efforts as a threat to its national security. Russian Ambassador Sergey Nechayev stated that Germany is “speeding up preparations for a full-scale military confrontation with Russia.”

In contrast, German officials argue that the country’s actions are driven by concerns over Russia’s refusal to withdraw from Ukraine. The government has allocated €108 billion ($125bn) to rebuild its armed forces this year, equivalent to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product.

A recent survey found that eight out of ten Germans believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is not serious about pursuing a peace agreement in the war in Ukraine. Many Germans also fear that Russia plans to expand its war to NATO countries, with some speculating that 2029 could be a possible date for such an attack.

The shift in German public opinion has been driven by concerns over US influence in Europe, with many Germans now believing that the United States is no longer reliable guarantor of European security. A recent poll found that nine out of ten Germans see US political influence as pernicious, and 84 percent believe that the US will not continue to guarantee Europe’s security as part of NATO.

Source: Al Jazeera