The German government on Wednesday tried to smooth over a row within its ranks over conscription that threatens to overshadow its push to bolster military deterrence against Russia.

European powers have been on alert since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and a spate of drone incursions in recent months -- as well as US promises to move away from defending the continent -- has pushed the issue to the top of the agenda.

One of the key projects of conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government is to bring in a new system of military service to build up "the strongest conventional army in Europe".

Some government MPs have suggested a lottery system to decide who gets drafted, but on Wednesday Defence Minister Boris Pistorius rejected that idea as a "lazy compromise" that would be too ti

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