Germany has enacted amendments to its military service modernization laws, mandating that men aged 17 to 45 obtain permission from the Bundeswehr before traveling abroad for periods longer than three months, Berliner Zeitung reported on Friday, April 3.
The German Ministry of Defense confirmed the new requirement to Ippen.Media, stating the rule aims to maintain an informative record of military personnel. “In the event of an emergency, it is necessary to know who may be abroad for an extended period,” a ministry spokesperson said.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
Under the new regulations, men must obtain authorization from the Federal Armed Forces Career Center regardless of their reason for travel, including education, work, or tourism. The requirement remains in effect permanently and is not contingent on a state of emergency or war.
The Ministry of Defense noted that the full procedural details are still being finalized, including specific criteria for exemptions. The amendments are part of a broader push to modernize the Bundeswehr, which includes plans to reintroduce full-scale conscription by 2028.
The legislative shift comes amid a major escalation in regional tensions and growing concerns over Russia’s role in the Middle East conflict. On Friday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul accused Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin of using the war in Iran to divert international attention from the invasion of Ukraine.
Other Topics of Interest
