Ahead of next week's NATO summit, the German cabinet has approved two draft laws aimed at strengthening the Bundeswehr. The measures focus on speeding up the construction of military infrastructure and strengthening the reserve forces. Under the proposals, reservists will once again be required to take part in military exercises. For the second time since the centre-right/centre-left coalition took office, the cabinet met at the Federal Ministry of Defence. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attended the meeting as a guest.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) described the cabinet meeting at his ministry as "an important signal" of the challenges facing not only the Bundeswehr but "the entire country." Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) said at a joint press conference with Pistorius and Rutte that the cabinet's decisions showed Germany was "moving quickly on security policy" in response to a difficult international situation.
Under the cabinet-approved plans, the principle of "double voluntary consent" for reservists is to be abolished. At present, members of the reserve can only be called up if both they and their employer agree. In future, reservists and employers will generally only be able to apply for a postponement of exercises and service. Exceptions will remain in certain hardship cases and other special circumstances.
Pistorius said the reform is intended to meet NATO's target of making a total of 460,000 Bundeswehr personnel available in the event of a crisis or war from 2035 onwards. To achieve this, the number of active soldiers is expected to increase from around 185,600 currently to at least 260,000. In addition, the number of operationally ready reservists is to rise from the current target of 60,000 to around 200,000 by 2033.
The aim is to create a reserve force "that will serve alongside the active forces as an equal partner," Pistorius said. Reservists are also to receive further training so they can operate new weapons systems if required.
The second draft law approved by the cabinet is intended to accelerate Bundeswehr construction projects, including barracks, ammunition depots and facilities for weapons systems. To achieve this, exemptions are to be introduced in areas including property and environmental law. Both draft laws must now be considered by the Bundestag.
The decisions were taken just days before the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Merz said the European NATO members wanted "to send a signal of unity and strength ahead of the NATO summit." He added that Ankara should also send "a signal of support" for Ukraine. Merz reaffirmed that Germany would meet the NATO target agreed at last year's summit of spending 3.5% of economic output on defence by 2029.
With the United States facing supply shortages partly as a result of the Iran war, Rutte called on Germany's and Europe's defence industries to increase the speed of production and deliveries. "Because deterrence is built just as much in factories as it is projected by armed forces," he said. Pistorius stressed that Germany was prepared to work with the United States to "build systems or parts of systems in Germany."
In response to the heightened threat from Russia, the cabinet also adopted a framework paper to update Germany's so-called security and supply legislation. The Defence Ministry, which prepared the proposal together with the Interior Ministry, said the changes are to be implemented by 2027 and are intended to ensure "better preparation for crises and wars." The goal is "to ensure the supply of the civilian population and the armed forces with the necessary goods and services."
Specifically, federal laws designed to deal with exceptional threat situations are to be revised. Security legislation applies in the event of an alliance commitment, a period of heightened tension or national defence, while preparedness laws also apply during special emergency situations such as natural disasters or major accidents. Merz stressed that it was important to involve the public in civil protection as part of a comprehensive security strategy.
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
