German cabinet Bundeswehr boost

Berlin (dpa) — The German government intends to approve important legislative initiatives to strengthen the armed forces, or Bundeswehr, during a Cabinet meeting at the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday.

On the agenda for the ministerial round is also the draft law for a new style military service, which is initially to be based on volunteers and aims to attract new recruits with additional incentives.

The ministers are also addressing the already approved National Security Council as a central hub for crises and threats, as well as the planned law to strengthen military security in the Bundeswehr, which introduces new powers for the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD).

The Cabinet is meeting at the Ministry of Defence for the first time in more than three decades. Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus Grynkewich of the United States is participating as a guest.

The meeting also plans to discuss the ongoing consultations on security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a possible peace solution.

Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who held talks in Kiev at the beginning of the week, intends to report on this.