German Military Chief Warns Against Rushed Reintroduction of Conscription
Germany’s Marine Inspector, Jan Christian Kaack, has cautioned against the hasty reintroduction of conscription, urging a measured approach to ensure the success of the move. In an interview with the Neue Berliner Redaktionsgesellschaft, Kaack emphasized the need for careful planning, stating, “We can’t just suddenly heal what we ended with the suspension of general conscription 14 years ago.”
Kaack’s remarks come as the debate over conscription gains momentum, particularly in light of recent NATO demands for an additional 10,000 soldiers from Germany. The discussion has been reinvigorated, with the Union party increasingly calling for a duty of service. The coalition agreement with the SPD, however, stipulates that the military service will initially be based on voluntary participation.
Kaack expressed satisfaction with the plans presented by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, stating, “I have always been a proponent of a new form of military service and I’m glad we’re finally taking the first steps.” According to Kaack, the German Navy is prepared to train 1,650 young men and women in the new military service next year, with the goal of convincing around 25 percent of them to remain in the military beyond their initial term, similar to the old conscription era.