German CSU leader pushes for mandatory military service

Markus Söder, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) and a key ally of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is advocating for the swift reintroduction of mandatory military service in Germany. He argues that relying solely on volunteers is insufficient for the nation's defense ambitions. Söder explicitly stated, 'If the Bundeswehr is to become the biggest army in Europe, there is no way around military service.' This push signals a significant political debate within Germany's governing coalition over the future structure of its armed forces.