The chairman of the Bundeswehr Association, André Wüstner, expects the German armed forces to need far more personnel than currently planned. He told the ARD Hauptstadtstudio that the actual number of soldiers will have to exceed 300 000.
Presently, the Ministry of Defence is projecting a strength of 260 000 active soldiers by the mid‑2030s. Last week the ministry reported that the Bundeswehr’s current total is 186 200 soldiers. Wüstner’s estimate is based on Germany’s obligations to NATO, which he claims will drive the personnel requirement higher.
He warns that a new debate over conscription will likely emerge within two years. The idea is that, even if the armed forces supply the necessary infrastructure and materiel, the personnel shortfall will remain. Wüstner doubts that voluntary service alone will resolve these staffing problems. On March 24, the Bundestag’s decision to suspend conscription will reach its fifteenth anniversary.
Even though the focus has shifted to the conflict in Iran, Wüstner insists that Germany’s and NATO’s priorities should remain on the Eastern flank. According to him, Putin will have an “ideal window of one or two years to test NATO”. He adds that, because of Trump’s actions-highlighting a loss of trust-NATO already faces a deterrence gap that could widen further.