Germany to recruit 11,000 more military personnel this year

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — German mechanized infantrymen run through the forest during NATO’s Exercise Rising Griffin 2022. (NATO photo via Flickr)

FRANKFURT  -  The German government will provide funds for an extra 11,000 military personnel by the end of the year, an increase of around 4%, tabloid Bild reported on Saturday, citing government sources.

The money will be provided for 10,000 soldiers and 1,000 civilian employees for the military by end-2025, the newspaper said, adding the move was part of this year's budget planning to be approved by the cabinet next week.

The new jobs will cover armed, air, naval and cyber forces, the report said.

Germany's Defence Ministry declined to comment.

Germany needs up to 60,000 additional troops under new NATO targets for weapons and personnel, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said earlier this month, as the alliance beefs up its forces to respond to what it sees as an increased threat from Russia.

 (Reporting by Christoph SteitzEditing by Mark Potter // REUTERS)