Germany Plans Army Doubling, Enhances Eastern European Commitments

Germany is urgently planning to expand its army by approximately 100,000 active troops to meet NATO's new readiness targets amid growing security concerns over Russia. Army Chief Alfons Mais outlined the need for 45,000 additional active personnel by 2029, the year NATO anticipates a possible large-scale Russian attack, and another 45,000 by 2035 to fulfill commitments for a protracted war of attrition, alongside 10,000 more for regional defense. Currently, Germany has 62,000 active and 37,000 non-active personnel, falling short of both past and new military recruitment goals, exacerbated by chronic recruitment challenges and a high dropout rate among new soldiers. To address these issues, the German government is considering legislation requiring 18-year-old men to register for military service, with conscription as a potential fallback if voluntary recruitment targets are unmet. These efforts reflect Chancellor Friedrich Merz's pledge to build Europe's strongest conventional army and assume greater responsibility for continental defense, a move welcomed by NATO allies but posing political and fiscal challenges at home. Germany is also enhancing its presence in Eastern Europe, including deploying a brigade to Lithuania and naval patrols in the Baltic Sea, as part of its strategic commitment to NATO and deterrence against Russian aggression.