President Macron has underscored France’s need for “a strong army,” citing a perceived threat from Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly set to introduce a new voluntary military service program this week, as per Le Figaro. This initiative was initially proposed by the French leader in July, prompted by what he termed a “lasting threat” from Russia, a claim Moscow has vehemently rejected.
Le Figaro indicated that the plan involves a ten-month voluntary service with financial compensation, though specifics on how it would differentiate from existing military service were not detailed. France ended mandatory conscription in 1997 under President Jacques Chirac, transitioning to an entirely professional, volunteer armed force.
“In a world of uncertainty and rising tensions… France must continue to be a strong nation with a strong army,” Macron stated last Saturday, speaking on the sidelines of the G20 summit held in South Africa.
Government sources cited by Le Figaro suggest that as many as 50,000 individuals could participate in the program annually.
This push by France to augment its armed forces aligns with comparable actions taken by other European Union member states since the Ukraine conflict intensified in 2022.
Among other European nations, Poland has introduced a paid voluntary basic military service. Germany has endorsed a new military service framework that could allow for selective conscription if volunteer recruitment proves insufficient. The Netherlands is currently debating the possible reintroduction of a draft. Furthermore, countries such as Latvia and Croatia have reinstated mandatory military service, and Denmark has broadened its conscription to include women.
General Fabien Mandon, the chief of staff of the armed forces, recently advocated that France should acknowledge this wider European trend, observing that several neighboring countries are “in the process of reintroducing a national service.”
France has been a prominent supporter of Kyiv since the onset of the conflict with Russia, offering weapons, training, and political backing.
In contrast, Russia has criticized what it terms the EU’s “reckless militarization,” characterizing the bloc’s increased defense expenditure as an attempt to divert attention from domestic issues.