French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a major change in policy. France will bring back a form of national military service, twenty-five years after it ended compulsory conscription. The new program is voluntary and will start next summer with 3,000 young volunteers. This move is a clear effort to strengthen the country's defenses in what is seen as a more dangerous and unstable world.
The program is aimed at 18- and 19-year-olds. It will involve a ten-month training period, and participants will be paid at least €800 per month. The government has a big goal for the future: they want 50,000 young people to take part every year by 2035. These volunteers will become a new, third part of the French military, alongside the professional soldiers and the existing reservists. President Macron explained that this is about preparing the nation for potential threats. "The only way to avoid danger is to prepare for it," he said. He described the world as a place where power often defeats justice, adding that the plan shows "trust in our youth."
This decision is largely a reaction to growing security fears in Europe, especially concerning Russia. French officials often talk about Russian hybrid warfare, which includes spreading false information online. With this new service, France is joining other European countries. Belgium and the Netherlands have similar voluntary programs, Germany is planning one, and nations like Lithuania have kept compulsory service.
Many French military leaders support the plan. They believe France relied too much on professional soldiers and that this new system will create a valuable pool of trained citizens. This could allow career soldiers to focus on the most critical tasks and might even inspire some volunteers to join the army full-time.
Although the program is not mandatory, it represents a significant shift in thinking. It is a government investment in rebuilding the connection between the French people and their military, a relationship that weakened after conscription ended. As Europe focuses more on defense, France believes this renewed link between society and the army will be a key part of its security for the future.