Germany mandates clearance for young men abroad amid military overhaul

German males aged 17 to 45 must now seek government approval for extended stays abroad, following new regulations introduced under the Military Service Modernisation Act. The law, effective from January 1, updates longstanding military protocols to bolster defense readiness amidst escalating tensions from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Approvals will be required for travel exceeding three months, with the aim of maintaining a “reliable and meaningful military registration system,” according to defense