“Military Service”: Europe’s Concerns Drive towards “Mandatory” Service

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Driven by fears of a potential disengagement of the United States from its defense commitments or a repeat of the Ukrainian scenario, European countries are considering reintroducing compulsory military service to strengthen their capacities in the face of any aggression.

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From Paris to Warsaw, leaders are seeking to increase their countries’ defense spending in response to American threats to withdraw security guarantees for Europe. However, several countries, including France and the UK, are struggling to recruit and retain military personnel.

The reintroduction of some form of military service, whether mandatory or voluntary, may prove more difficult.

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Opinion Polls

According to a survey conducted by the “YouGov” institute, a majority in France (68%) and Germany (58%) support compulsory military service for young people.

In contrast, Italians and Britons are divided on the issue, while a majority of Spaniards (53%) oppose it.

However, studies also show that many Europeans are unwilling to defend their countries on the battlefield.

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French expert Bénédicte Chéron, who studies the links between society and the military, explains: “In a liberal society, imposing military constraints has become almost impossible.” She adds, “As long as there is no invasion, bearing the political cost of punishing those who refuse the draft seems unthinkable.”

Most European countries abolished mandatory conscription after the Cold War, except for nine countries that never suspended it: Greece, Cyprus, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Turkey.

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Lithuania reinstated conscription in 2015, one year after Russia annexed Crimea in southern Ukraine, followed by Sweden in 2017 and Latvia in 2023.

However, due to political and economic costs, most of the five highest-spending European countries in NATO—France, Germany, the UK, Italy, and Poland—do not plan to make military service mandatory.

Poland, which abolished conscription in 2008, recently announced plans to offer military training to 100,000 civilians annually starting in 2027. This program will be voluntary, while authorities plan to implement a system of “motivations and incentives,” according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

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Divergent European Trends

In Germany, future chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his support for a mandatory year during which young people could serve either in the military or community service.

In the UK, where the last national serviceman was demobilized in 1963, the government does not plan to reverse this decision. Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden clarified: “We are not considering conscription, but of course, we have announced a significant increase in defense spending.”

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In France, where mandatory service ended in 2001, President Emmanuel Macron is exploring ways to encourage young people to join the military. He stated in comments published on Saturday that France lacks the “logistical means” to reinstate conscription but wants to “find ways to mobilize civilians,” with an announcement expected in the coming weeks.

French military historian Michel Goya believes that reinstating national service would mean “turning a large part of the army into training centers.”

In Italy, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto ruled out reinstating conscription but supported the idea of creating a reserve force.

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Nordic Model

Researchers believe that Western European politicians should learn from Nordic and Baltic countries, particularly Finland and Sweden.

Finland, which shares a long border with Russia and was invaded by the Soviet Union in 1939, has one of the largest reserve forces in Europe.

Burelikov emphasizes: “The divide between East and West remains a problem; few people in Western Europe are willing to fight.” He adds that convincing Europeans to volunteer will require advocacy campaigns.

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He explains: “There is also a relationship between whether people believe victory is possible in war and whether they want to serve. Therefore, a radical improvement in European military capabilities would increase people’s confidence in them.”

Michel Goya states that Europeans were shocked by their fragility and defensive weakness, noting that American support “is waning, and many European countries acknowledge that, in the end, they are somewhat exposed.”

President Vladimir Putin‘s decision to launch a military operation against Ukraine in early 2022 surprised Europe. Concerns about NATO’s strength have increased due to the radical changes made by President Donald Trump to US foreign policy and his insistence that Europe take responsibility for its own security.

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Military analysts and European governments agree that the risk of Russian aggression is real and much higher than it was three years ago.

Alexander Burelikov, a researcher at the Institute of Political Science at the University of Heidelberg, argues: “The Russian army is now bigger and better equipped than it was on February 24, 2022. The Russians have hostile intentions towards the Baltic States and the eastern flank of the European Union.”

A study by Burelikov, conducted for the “Bruegel” research center and the “Kiel” Institute, indicates that Europe may need an additional 300,000 soldiers to deter Russian aggression, in addition to the 1.47 million soldiers currently in service.

The researcher explains: “Conscription must play a role in providing this number of new troops.”

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