Germany’s Cabinet on 27 August approved a draft law that would re-introduce a form of military service, relying mainly on voluntary enlistment to expand the Bundeswehr. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government says the measure is needed to meet NATO commitments and modernise the armed forces after years of under-staffing. Under the proposal presented by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, all 18-year-old men would be required to complete an online survey on their willingness to serve, followed by a mandatory medical examination starting in July 2027. Women can take part voluntarily. If the Bundeswehr fails to secure enough volunteers, the law allows parliament to activate conscription as a fallback. Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011. The Defence Ministry estimates the forces need about 80,000 additional professional soldiers and 140,000 reservists. The bill now goes to parliament, with the government aiming for it to take effect next year. Implementation faces early pushback: anti-war activists blocked the entrance to a military recruitment office in Cologne on Wednesday. The Cabinet also agreed to establish a permanent National Security Council, underscoring Berlin’s broader shift toward stronger defence planning in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.