Boris Pistorius relies on voluntary military service and refers to the Nordic countries. Sweden’s Minister for Equal Opportunities disagrees. In Sweden, volunteerism alone is not enough.
11/19/2025 | 1:15 min
Sweden’s Minister for Equal Opportunities, Nina Larsson (Liberal), denied Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’s (SPD) statements about military service.
In Sweden, Finland and Denmark the number of volunteers is sufficient. Why are there not enough of them in Germany?
Boris Pistorius, SPD
Larsson told ZDFheute that volunteerism is an important component in Sweden.
But in Sweden, volunteerism alone is not enough.
Nina Larsson, Minister of Equal Opportunities in Sweden
“Voluntary nature alone is enough, the number of applicants shows that,” Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said last week.
11/13/2025 | 6:15 min
Sweden as an example for Germany?
Sweden reintroduced mandatory military service in 2017. Compulsory elements also play a role. “Now that the need is increasing and more and more people are having to do military service, the number of volunteers alone is not enough,” Larsson said.
It is important for Sweden’s defense capability that there are also duties and responsibilities towards our fellow citizens in our democratic country.
Nina Larsson, Minister of Equal Opportunities in Sweden
Active military in Germany
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When asked whether this also applies to Germany, Larsson said he could not answer for Germany. But: “We can be an example of how people go from military service to military service.” Their stance is that a conscription law is needed as a basis.
Also to make it clear that you must defend Sweden if you are a fellow Swedish citizen.
Nina Larsson, Minister of Equal Opportunities in Sweden
For Boris Pistorius, his troubles have only just begun. What if there are not enough volunteers coming to the federal government? So a new law is needed. The debate will return, with a vengeance.
November 16, 2025 | 4:21 min
The Swedish army relies on women
Larsson, who is a veteran and served in Kosovo, also pointed out the importance of women in the Swedish armed forces. They constitute nearly 20 percent of those liable for military service.
Without women, Sweden would not be able to meet its military service needs, Larsson said. “When the Swedish armed forces select people, it is very important that they can do so from the entire population. Not just half of it.”
This makes a big difference when looking for the right talents and skills. We need the entire population as a base.
Nina Larsson, Minister of Equal Opportunities in Sweden
Here you can see excerpts from an interview with Swedish Equal Opportunities Minister Nina Larsson (Liberal).
11/19/2025 | 0:44 min
Uppsala: 40 percent female
Many women who join the military will enlist for a specific period of time. “It shows that they feel comfortable. And feel like they can contribute.”
He recently visited a unit in Uppsala, north of Stockholm. “More than 40 percent of conscripts are women,” Larsson said. In Sweden, military selection is completely gender neutral.
“When you select people, you do it based on physical and psychological criteria. And of course everyone has to meet those criteria, regardless of their gender.”
