Germany is edging towards compulsory military conscription for the first time in more than a decade as fears mount that Russia could one day strike NATO.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has unveiled a sweeping plan to strengthen the German armed forces and hinted that conscription could return if efforts to boost voluntary recruitment fail.
The proposal, approved by the cabinet on Wednesday, marks the most significant step toward reintroducing national service since it was scrapped in 2011.
It comes as Germany faces growing pressure to bolster its defences, with officials warning that Russia could target NATO territory in the coming years.
The draft legislation talks about the security concerns, saying: 'Russia will remain the greatest threat to security in Europe for the foreseeable future and is creating the military personnel and material prerequisites to be able to attack NATO territory within a few years.'
