German defense minister speaks out against conscription

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German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht underlined on Monday her opposition to the re-introduction of conscription in the country, which was abolished in 2011, despite her country seeing a sharp decline in the number of people willing to serve professionally.

"Debates on compulsory military service do not help us much in the current situation," Lambrecht told the German Funke media group. There are not enough facilities and equipment for thousands of potential conscripts, she added.

The minister also shed the light on gender equality, saying conscription should also include women, "and in this sense, the question of gender equality in military service is not an easy one to resolve."

The spokesperson for the Federal Office of Human Resources Management of the German Armed Forces said earlier today that the number of applicants for military service has been in free fall since the onset of the year.

Germany has been hit with several crises in light of the Ukraine war, and amid certain parties stoking fears in the region, the issue of conscription has been brought up.

Lambrecht, herself, admitted that Germany, one of the NATO countries actively selling weapons to Ukraine, hit its cap on arms supplies to Kiev last week.

The largest EU economy is anticipated to contract in 2023, as gas and electricity prices continue to skyrocket. According to the Ifo Institute for Economic Research, the Munich-based think tank, the ongoing energy crisis as a result of the war in Ukraine is “wreaking havoc” on the German economy and they project it could lead to a 0.3% drop in GDP next year.

The German government approved on August 4 a €65 billion relief package, which includes continued cheaper public transport and tax breaks for energy-reliant companies, as they have been affected the most by the biggest surge in prices.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, Germany's inflation rose to almost 8% in August after declining slightly in the months of June and July.

In light of its dwindling number of soldiers, Berlin again suspended its reconnaissance patrols in eastern Mali that are part of a UN peacekeeping mission after failing to get flyover rights, the military said Monday.

The permission is needed for flights between Gao, home to the German military's main base in Mali, and Niamey, the capital of neighboring Niger.

About 1,100 soldiers from the German military are part of the UN mission.