Twenty-five years after deploying the Bundeswehr to Afghanistan as Germany’s Defense Minister, Rudolf Scharping is now warning against minimizing current threats. Scharping, who served as Defense Minister under the SPD, believes Germany will return to mandatory military service – Wehrpflicht – in the future. The statement reflects a shift in perspective on national security challenges facing Germany. He also offered commentary on his successor, current Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, though details of that assessment weren’t immediately available. His initial decision to send troops to Afghanistan remains a significant moment in modern German military history. Scharping’s remarks signal growing concern among some within Germany regarding the evolving geopolitical landscape and the need for a stronger defense posture.