After the Second World War, Germany deliberately stayed away from building military power for a long time. However, it has now begun increasing its defence spending. According to a report by Al Jazeera, the German government is currently focused on a mission to build the most powerful army in Europe”possibly even in the world. To attract young people to the armed forces, the German government is offering several incentives. New recruits are being promised an initial salary of up to Rs 2.5 lakh. Military service in Germany is currently voluntary. However, under a new law, the government has been granted the authority to enforce compulsory military service if required. Reports indicate that since the beginning of this year, mandatory forms have been sent to 18-year-olds in Germany. Germany has assured Nato that by 2035 it will increase the number of active soldiers to 260,000, along with around 200,000 reserve troops. This would bring the total strength close to 500,000. This raises an important question: does Germany’s growing military preparedness signal the possibility of another global conflict?
