German men of fighting age must now seek permission from the military before leaving the country for more than three months under new military service rules. The government has introduced a new scheme this year that stops short of full conscription but requires men born from 2008 onwards to undergo a medical assessment and complete a survey on their fitness for service.
Under new rules, men aged 17 to 45 must obtain a permit from the Bundeswehr before travelling abroad for extended periods. It comes as Germany continues to mobilise its armed forces after decades of modest militarisation following the Second World War.
The new rule states: “Male persons who have reached the age of 17 must obtain permission from the responsible career centre of the German armed forces if they wish to leave the Federal Republic of Germany for more than three months.”
Germany is in the midst of increasing defence spending, troop numbers and capabilities in response to continued Russian aggression in Europe.
The country has committed to spending €153bn (£133bn) on defence by 2029, equivalent to 3.5% of GDP as part of a longer-term commitment by NATO nations to eventually spend 5% on defence and related areas.
The rule seeks to control the mass movement of young men for large periods of time to ensure that the military has enough people should it be required to be mobilised.
Defence officials believe that it is unlikely that a request will be denied in peacetime, with the measure simply a means of ensuring that the country can respond in the event of crisis or conflict.
An army spokesman said: “The background and guiding principle of this regulation is to ensure a reliable and informative military register for when needed…in case of emergency, we need to know who might be staying abroad for an extended period.”
The clause went largely unnoticed until it was spotted by Frankfurter Rundschau, a Left-leaning newspaper, which argued that the new rules could cause uncertainty for millions of young German men.
Compulsory service has not been introduced, but the legislation gives ministers the power to draft men of fighting age in future if volunteer numbers fall short.
Previously, rules requiring permission to travel abroad for extended periods only applied in exceptional circumstances, such as during a national security crisis or war.
Changes brought in this January have widened the scope significantly, meaning men aged between 17 and 45 are now expected to notify the Bundeswehr before taking lengthy trips or working overseas.
It is not yet clear what penalties, if any, would apply to those who fail to comply.
Source link
