Germany should return to conscription from 2025, the parliament's armed forces commissioner said on Tuesday (12 March) as the defence ministry is working on a new model inspired by Nordic countries.
  • eleitl
    5·
    8 months ago

    In Germany you can register as a conscientous objector to military service. Students are also exempt for the duration. As an option of last resort, emigration.

  • taladar@sh.itjust.works
    1·
    8 months ago

    I feel what is missing is the larger debate what kind of defense we actually want, in particular with regards to the EU. What do we want our military to be in a few years. The ‘how do we get there’ part should come after that.

    • eleitl
      3·
      8 months ago

      The question is what kind of defense the EU can afford.

      • taladar@sh.itjust.works
        2·
        8 months ago

        The EU can, by definition, afford more than any individual member can. Obviously defense would need to be handled by a separate budget but uncoordinated defense strategies for every member are certainly worse.

        • eleitl
          31·
          8 months ago

          2% of GDP is about 20% of the annual budget, which is not sustainable these days. 3% is ludicrous.

          • taladar@sh.itjust.works
            3·
            8 months ago

            Not sure what you are trying to say and how it relates to whether EU member states all do their own uncoordinated thing with their money or pool that very same money to do something coordinated on the EU level for defense.

            • eleitl
              21·
              8 months ago

              2% of GDP is a minimum ask for spending for NATO members. It looks small, but 2% of GDP is 20% of the annual budget which is not elastic, unless you consider the bulk which is social spending omittable. The general public will soon convince you it’s not.

              Coordinated anything doesn’t work because modern wars are about infrastructure and logistics. Hence the 2% per member scaling.