President Emmanuel Macron will announce on Thursday that France is bringing back military service on a voluntary basis. He plans this move as France faces a growing threat from Russia and the possibility of a new conflict in Europe.
Almost 30 years after France ended conscription, Macron will outline the new plan during a speech at 1000 GMT. He will deliver the speech while visiting an infantry brigade in the Alps in southeastern France, according to a presidential official who did not wish to be named.
This decision comes more than three and a half years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Macron and several French officials have repeatedly warned that Moscow might not stop at Ukraine.
France’s top military officer, General Fabien Mandon, caused a major uproar last week. He warned that France must be ready “to lose its children”, and said Russia is “preparing for a confrontation by 2030 with our countries”. His comments shocked many in France.
Macron later told RTL that he would announce a “transformation of national service into a new form” but did not explain what the changes would include.
A source familiar with the project told AFP that France plans to train 2,000 to 3,000 volunteers in the first year. Over time, officials hope to raise this number to 50,000 volunteers each year. “It will start slowly,” the source said.
A presidential official confirmed that this “new form of national service” will be voluntary. Another adviser, also speaking anonymously, said the programme will roll out gradually because of strict budget limits. The adviser said the government wants a “realistic” plan that “takes into account our current resources”.
Voluntary, Not Mandatory
Many European countries still have some version of military service, but their systems vary widely. Some nations, like Latvia and Lithuania, have restored conscription. Others, like Denmark, have tightened their military service rules.
However, France’s plan will not bring back compulsory service. France ended conscription in 1997 under then-president Jacques Chirac. This reform marked a shift toward a professional army.
Military service can strengthen armed forces and create a large pool of reservists. These reservists can be mobilised quickly if a future war breaks out.
France currently has 200,000 active soldiers and 47,000 reservists. The government expects these numbers to rise to 210,000 active personnel and 80,000 reservists by 2030.
Debate Over General Mandon’s Warning
Left-wing leaders accused General Mandon of warmongering. But the general defended his remarks and said he simply wanted “to alert and prepare” the country during a time of “rapidly deteriorating” security.
He added that the intense reactions to his comments showed that “this is something that was perhaps not sufficiently perceived in our population”.
However, Macron and other officials have worked carefully this week to calm public fears. Many people worry that France may push its youth toward direct conflict.
Macron addressed those concerns directly on Tuesday. He insisted that he needed to dispel any impression that “we are going to send our young people to Ukraine”.