German cabinet backs voluntary military service, opening door to conscription
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The government wants an 80,000 increase in soldier numbers by 80,000 by the early 2030s
Germany's cabinet has passed a draft bill which will introduce voluntary military service. The bill could also lead to conscription if more troops are needed.
It's part of a move to boost German national defences, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Compulsory military service in Germany was ended in 2011 under then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made boosting Germany's military a priority given the threat from Russia and said "we are now back on the path to a military service army".
He summed up his thinking earlier this year saying: "We want to be able to defend ourselves so that we don't have to defend our...