German cabinet advances military laws ahead of NATO summit

The session took place at the Defence Ministry in Berlin rather than the Chancellery. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attended the meeting.

Reserve rules The Reserve Strengthening Act ends the requirement that both reservists and employers consent to call-ups. Former soldiers would face compulsory reserve service even in peacetime. Service could last three to twelve weeks per year, with totals of six to twelve months over a career.

Call-ups would apply up to age 65, or 68 in some cases. Defence Ministry statements said the reserve would grow to at least 200,000 personnel and integrate closely with active forces.

Infrastructure and planning The Bundeswehr Infrastructure Acceleration Act places military projects in the overriding public interest. Ten environmental and planning statutes would be amended to shorten approvals. Officials described the changes as the largest military construction effort since the Bundeswehr was founded.

The measures implement Operations Plan Germany, which envisions moving up to 800,000 allied troops and 200,000 vehicles through the country within six months.

Pistorius said the package would raise defence spending to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2029 and make NATO more European. Rutte praised the spending target and said the July 7-8 summit in Ankara would focus on turning funds into combat-ready forces. The decisions precede the summit and follow earlier German commitments to finance Ukraine support.

" — Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, press conference following cabinet meeting.