France will introduce 10-month voluntary military service starting next summer, becoming the latest EU country to hint at preparing for war in the face Growing threat from Russia.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the expansion of the armed forces, focusing on volunteers, mainly between the ages of 18 and 19.
“The new national service will be introduced gradually, starting next summer,” he said during a speech to troops in Vars Alier i Riss.
This makes France the first European heavyweight – and the first nuclear-capable country – to reintroduce conscription.
Macron stressed that volunteers will be sent “only to national soil” and not to the front line in Ukraine.
The volunteers will undergo “serious” combat training to “reaffirm the importance of preparing the nation and its morale to face growing threats”, the Elysee Palace said today.
It is hoped that 3,000 people will join in the first year.
But as it develops, the new volunteer service could accommodate up to 50,000 people a year as military officials confirm they are “preparing for confrontation with our countries by 2030.”
We are talking about the threat of attack from outside Russia continues hang over the continent.
France's top general made headlines last week by warning that the country:must be prepared to lose your children'.
US have made it clear that they expect Europe to take care of its own defense and are now relying on them to counter Russian threats.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank, said: “Most European armies are finding it difficult to meet their recruitment targets and retain trained personnel, as well as create sufficient reserves.”
Nordic and Baltic countries a; some form of conscription already exists, with Finland having one of the world's largest reserves based on universal conscription among men.
Sweden also reintroduced selective conscription, with mandatory registration for both men and women.
Meanwhile in the UK, General Sir Richard Barrons said Britain had not invested in “what he needs for a long war,instead leaving them to “wither”.
He civil defense received a rating of “one out of 10” and warned that UK institutions are still running on smug peacetime assumption that there are no more protracted wars.
He told the Long War 2025 conference, held in Whitehall by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), that the country must be ready for a long war – but this is with production speed“At best, we will be quite ready in about 10 years.”
Who is eligible to volunteer in France?
We invite all French citizens aged 18 to 19 years to register.
The volunteer service will last 10 months and will begin next summer.
The government hopes to attract 3,000 young people in the first year and up to 50,000 in the coming years.
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