Back To Conscription - A Difficult Path For The Bundeswehr

The U.S. is no longer primarily focused on the security of Europe. This is the fundamental view within the current administration under President Trump. Still, it also reflects the views of many American politicians beyond the current administration and has been gaining ground since Obama's presidency. As a result, Europeans will have to take responsibility for conventional security on their continent themselves. Germany, the most populous and economically strongest country in the EU, will need to intensify its efforts by significantly expanding its military share to achieve credible conventional deterrence against Russia. This will not succeed without a return to conscription. An assessment that has long been called for, considering the overwhelming benefits of a universal and fair conscription, is supported by the majority of the population and is now increasingly shared by many political decision-makers and security and defence experts.