Germany suspends military approval for long stays abroad for men under 45
5 hours ago
- #conscription
- #military policy
- #Germany defense
- Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius suspends a requirement for men under 45 to report lengthy stays abroad during peacetime.
- The suspension applies while military service remains voluntary, as per the Military Service Modernisation Act that took effect in January.
- The law reintroduces conscription in principle, to be activated only if voluntary enlistment is insufficient.
- All 18-year-old men in Germany are required to complete a mandatory questionnaire about military interest; medical exams for men will start in July 2027.
- The government aims to strengthen Germany's defences in response to threats from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.