defense
Lambrecht: The conscription debate doesn’t help much in the current situation
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) gives a press statement on the sidelines of the Ukraine conference at the American air base in Ramstein. photo
© Boris Roessler/dpa
In 2011, conscription in Germany was suspended. Should this decision be reconsidered given the new threat situation posed by the war in Ukraine?
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht currently sees little point in reintroducing conscription. Asked about the new threat posed by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the SPD politician told the Funke media group newspapers: “A debate on conscription is of little use to us in the current situation.” Training soldiers takes time, less than a year makes little sense, she said.
“And the question of military justice, called for by the Federal Constitutional Court, cannot be answered so easily. Conscription should also include women and ultimately should not affect just one in four a year.” In addition, “We don’t have enough barracks, trainers and equipment for tens of thousands of conscripts.” Conscription was suspended in Germany in 2011.