Germany's modernised military service law, in force since January 2026, relies on volunteers and mandatory registration while keeping conscription in reserve — part of a Europe-wide rearmament that reaches Luxembourg and NATO.
Fifteen years after suspending the draft, Germany has enacted a military-service law that stays voluntary but lets parliament switch on 'needs-based' conscription if too few volunteers come forward — part of a Europe-wide rearmament drive that reaches Luxembourg's own NATO spending commitments.
NATO chief Mark Rutte met Donald Trump at the White House on 24 June to ease transatlantic tensions before the 7-8 July Ankara summit, where the 5%-of-GDP spending pledge, Ukraine and US commitment to the alliance top the agenda.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel has paired a blunt verdict on Russia's invasion — that Moscow 'made a big mistake' — with a call for the EU to re-engage Vladimir Putin directly. Behind the rhetoric, Luxembourg has committed more than €550 million to Ukraine, supported every EU sanctions package and is roughly doubling its defence budget by 2030.
EU ministers met in Luxembourg on 16 June to wrangle over the bloc's 2028-2034 budget, an almost €2 trillion plan that shifts funding toward defence and competitiveness while merging cohesion and farm subsidies. For Luxembourg, a net contributor once administrative spending is stripped out, both its bill and the future of its EU-institution presence are at stake.