Is this a possibility?
We both remember back in the day when young German men were required to serve in the German military for several years.
When did that requirement end?
German draft ended in 2011. They re-branded the whole military into a US-like structure...better living conditions, better pay, investment into recruitment. Up until Covid, I would say it was a success (not great, but not bad).
They want to increase billet numbers and the present trouble is that there just isn’t that much interest brewing. Adding to it...mild recession effects going on, so tax revenue isn’t there to offer incentives.
They are convinced in some ways that the Fin-example...large reserve force/small active duty force....probably is the path to the future. But politically...harshly divided at present, with higher priorities.
I would add two observations: (1) If Trump wins, I see a movement of US forces out of Europe (not quitting NATO, just bringing the troops ‘home’). (2) At present, I’d say Russia is dismantling its military and economy at a rapid pace. The oil/natural gas sales? Slumped to some degree without western companies in the maintenance of the delivery system. Even if China would trade for oil/natural gas...distribution is now a open discussion. Rebuilding all the tank losses? You can figure two decades of taxation involved and Russians grumbling over decaying infrastructure.
Not to stir the pot too much, but if you look at German companies looking at production outside of the country (moving jobs and manufacturing where energy is cheaper)...there’s a problem brewing. BASF probably won’t be a pure-German company within 3 years. There’s a job crisis brewing and some kind of economic spiral developing.