Germany is "overhauling" its armed forces.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius presented a plan on April 4 to restructure the armed forces of the Western European nation – a key member of the transatlantic military alliance NATO and the European Union (EU).

Speaking at a live-streamed press conference, Pistorius said that the Bundeswehr's (German Armed Forces or German Army) defensive capabilities would be strengthened by a unified operational command. In addition, the Bundeswehr would be reorganized into four branches with a common support command.

"The goal is to restructure in a way that puts the Bundeswehr in an optimal position even in an emergency, in a defensive situation, in the event of war," Minister Pistorius said.

Following the restructuring, the German military will comprise the traditional Army, Navy, and Air Force, and a new branch called the Cyber and Information Space Force (CIR), responsible for handling hybrid threats as well as tactical tasks such as electronic warfare.

"The threats in Europe have increased. With this step, we want to make it clear: No one should even think about attacking us as NATO territory," Pistorius emphasized.

World - Germany — A German soldier during a bilateral military exercise between Lithuania and Germany in Pabrade, Lithuania, June 2023. Photo: NY Times

The German official described his plan as the “Bundeswehr of a new era,” adding that the most important decisions about this “overhaul” would be made “in the next few months.”

Previously, the Bundeswehr's command structure was divided between the Operational Command in Schwielowsee near Potsdam for planning and controlling foreign missions, and the Territorial Command for national defense in Berlin. This dual structure will now be merged.

Mr. Pistorius also revealed that he is considering whether to reintroduce mandatory military service in Germany, which was suspended in 2011.

The German minister is considering the model being adopted by the Nordic countries. For example, in Sweden, compulsory military service currently applies to both men and women, and each conscript is expected to serve for 9-12 months.

However, young people are recruited primarily based on a willingness to serve the country. This means that recruitment is, in practice, voluntary.

Germany aims to recruit 203,000 soldiers by 2031, but is struggling to attract new recruits. According to the Bundeswehr, the total number of military personnel had fallen to 183,050 by the end of 2022, from 183,725 in 2021 .

Minh Duc (According to Anadolu, Politico EU)

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