The most powerful conventional force in Europe! Germany plans to significantly strengthen its army

Germany plans to significantly strengthen its army after Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised to turn it into "the strongest conventional army in Europe", reports CNN. A new bill aims to increase the size of the army to 260,000 soldiers and 200,000 reservists by 2035.

The main emphasis is on voluntary participation with better pay - 2,600 euros starting salary. If the goals are not met, compulsory service will be imposed. From 2026, all 18-year-olds will have to fill out a questionnaire about their interest in military service, and from 2027, men will undergo mandatory medical examinations.

The reform comes against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and warnings from the United States that Europe must strengthen its own defense. The bill is due to be voted on in the Bundestag by the end of the year and will come into force on January 1, 2026.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has stressed that strengthening the army reduces the risk of conflict and could be an example for other European countries. The changes are controversial - especially among left-wing parties and young people. Surveys show that a large majority of them are against the restoration of conscription, and applications for conscientious objection to military service are reaching record levels.

Germany has long kept military spending below NATO targets, but after the start of the war in Ukraine, a 100 billion euro fund was created in 2022 to modernize the Bundeswehr. Merz promises to double military spending, emphasizing that "Putin only understands the language of force".