France introduces voluntary military service amid Russia concerns

French President Emmanuel Macron on November 27 introduced a voluntary military service as part of efforts to strengthen France's defences amid rising concerns over Russia’s threat to European countries.

Macron explained that volunteers, primarily aged 18 and 19, will begin a 10-month program next year, serving within France’s mainland and overseas territories only, Caliber.Az reports, citing France24.

The initiative aims to recruit 50,000 participants annually by 2035.

“A new national service is set to be gradually established, starting from next summer,” Macron said during a speech at the Varces military base in the French Alps.

Young volunteers will not be deployed in France’s overseas military operations. Approximately 80% of recruits will be 18 or 19 years old, while the remaining 20% will include candidates up to 25 years old with specialised skills, such as engineering.

The announcement comes over three and a half years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Macron and other French officials warning that Moscow could expand its aggression beyond Ukraine.

French leader also stated that France intends to raise annual defence spending to €64 billion by 2027, the final year of his second term, double the €32 billion spent when he first assumed office in 2017.

Last week, France’s top general and armed forces chief of staff, Fabien Mandon, caused controversy by asserting that France must be prepared “to lose its children,” noting that Russia is “preparing for a confrontation by 2030 with our countries.”

Currently, the French armed forces have roughly 200,000 active personnel and 47,000 reservists, with plans to increase these numbers to 210,000 and 100,000, respectively, by 2030.

By Jeyhun Aghazada