Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has announced that military-age men in Germany will not need to report lengthy stays abroad. This statement follows a wave of controversy over a newly enacted Military Service Modernisation Act, aimed at enhancing defense readiness due to ongoing threats from Russia. Under this law, approved in January, males aged 17 and older were previously required to obtain permission for stays abroad lasting over three months—a rule that went largely unnoticed until recently reported by a German newspaper. Pistorius confirmed that the permission requirement would be suspended as long as military service remains voluntary, stating, 'Whether they are 17 or 45, or anywhere in between—everyone is, of course, free to travel.' Furthermore, appropriate procedures for reporting stays abroad during potential crises will be established, emphasizing that this regulation acts as a precautionary measure. The law reinstitutes conscription only in scenarios where voluntary enlistment falls short, as Germany seeks to bolster its defense capabilities under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's directive to cultivate Europe's strongest conventional army.