Washington [US], September 4: Many European militaries are stepping up recruitment campaigns amid new geopolitical developments.
Since the Cold War, European militaries have systematically downsized as the era of large-scale conflict ended and was replaced by peace and stability. However, recent geopolitical developments, especially the conflict in Ukraine, have forced many countries to reassess this trend.
New context
The German cabinet approved a bill in late August requiring all men aged 18 and over to fill out an online questionnaire about their intention and ability to serve in the military , to create a database of potential recruits, according to Reuters. The bill includes a six-month voluntary conscription program that would double the number of reservists from 100,000. In addition, if the number of people registering to serve does not meet the target, conscription will be reintroduced, but it will need parliamentary approval. Germany abolished compulsory military service in 2011.
El Pais, citing a recent European Parliament discussion paper, said that the issue of compulsory military service has gradually returned to the EU's policy agenda, mainly since the Ukraine conflict in 2022. In addition, there are a number of other factors driving this, such as the growing security threat in Europe, the US administration's shift in its stance on transatlantic relations under President Donald Trump, a potential peace plan for Ukraine involving the presence of European troops. In addition, population decline has heightened awareness of the need to prepare countries' armed forces for the most urgent military situations.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has publicly supported conscription, citing the reasons mentioned above. In France, President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly affirmed his desire to increase Paris's autonomy due to concerns about the US's commitment to protection under President Donald Trump.
In the past 10 years, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden have reintroduced compulsory military service. In addition, Poland has announced plans to provide military training to 100,000 civilians each year from 2027, according to DW.
French reserve registration
More than two decades after France ended compulsory military service, tens of thousands of young men are volunteering to join the reserve force with the desire to serve their country. At a military area of the 24th Infantry Regiment, about 4 km from the Palace of Versailles, the army reserve volunteers will undergo a two-week military training course after enrolling. Lieutenant Amelie, who asked to be identified only by name at the request of the army, said the group she is training consists of 51 people, aged 17 to 57. During these two weeks, the students will be trained very strictly, from military regulations to military exercises and live-fire drills.
The 24th Regiment said it receives a large number of applications for training. However, the selection process is rigorous, with 60 out of every 100 applicants failing, and some dropping out midway through because they don't have the time or realize they "aren't cut out for gun-toting." After training, graduates can serve 60 days a year in the reserves. Reservists can attend longer advanced training courses and, when deemed ready, can join Operation Sentinelle to patrol security across the country. The best can be deployed overseas.
Official figures show that the total number of members of the French military's combat reserve has increased sharply from 28,000 in 2014 to more than 46,000 today. Of these, more than half are in the army, with the remainder split between the navy and air force. President Macron's administration aims to increase the number of military reservists to 105,000 by 2035, half the number of active-duty soldiers. This is part of the leader's plan to increase investment in the military, which is expected to reach a budget of 64 billion euros by 2027, double the level when he took office in 2017. DW cited the results of another survey showing that half of the young respondents said they would be willing to join the French army in the event of war.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
