A leading German official has voiced concerns regarding the proposed voluntary military service plan, suggesting it may not be sufficient to address current security challenges. Florian Hahn, a State Minister in the Foreign Office, expressed skepticism in a recent podcast interview, citing the perceived threat and ongoing military build-up in Russia as primary drivers for his reservations. He emphasized the need for a faster expansion of the armed forces and a greater sense of urgency in strengthening national defense capabilities.
Hahn urged a serious assessment of the increasing threat emanating from Moscow, warning that Russia would likely seek a moment when the disparity between its own strength and the ability of potential adversaries to defend themselves is at its greatest. He stressed the importance of European nations working to minimize this perceived imbalance.
The State Minister also highlighted concerns about the current state of defense preparedness, noting that providing substantial military aid to Ukraine – while crucial – has simultaneously depleted Germany’s own stockpiles of essential materials, munitions and weapon systems. He indicated a lack of adequate replenishment efforts, leading to a potential stagnation, or even regression, in national defense capability. He implied a need for a more robust and accelerated procurement strategy to address these deficiencies.