German Defence Association Head Calls for Bundeswehr Expansion to Meet NATO Demands and Russian Threat
The head of the German Defence Association, André Wüstner, has emphasized the need for the Bundeswehr to be expanded from its current 180,000 to as many as 260,000 soldiers in order to meet NATO’s demands and the threat posed by Russia. He believes that a provision for a mandatory service component should be included in the new military service law, allowing the Bundeswehr to grow definitively larger than the 203,300 soldiers originally planned for by 2025, before the pandemic.
The future target figure, Wüstner said, would depend on the outcome of NATO’s capability goals and the share of the burden that Germany is willing to take on. However, he expects the need for an additional 40,000 to 60,000 soldiers, which would require the active force to gradually grow to a maximum of 260,000, with a corresponding development of a high-performance reserve to reach the overall target of 460,000 soldiers, as mentioned by the Inspector General.
Wüstner added that, in light of the upcoming NATO summit and the commitments Germany is likely to make, he cannot envision the new military service law without a mandatory component. He believes that the rapid implementation of a new system of recruitment, including a new form of mustering, is essential, with the aim of making the first contact and sending out a notification as soon as possible.
Regardless of the number of volunteers who may enlist by the end of 2026, the Defence Ministry must, in Wüstner’s opinion, already start preparing for the possibility of a mandatory service, as the planning, organization and implementation of such a system would take 18 to 20 months and the country cannot afford to wait that long after a political decision is made. Therefore, the Defence Association head advocates for a dual-track approach, with a mandatory service component being prepared in advance, like an insurance policy, to enable a swift transition in the event of a political decision.