Le Figaro: France eyes return of voluntary military service amid Russia threat

Amid perceived threats from Russia, France may soon reinstate voluntary military service, with President Emmanuel Macron expected to announce the decision.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, Macron said that France must remain a strong country with a powerful army, Le Figaro reports.

The plan has been under consideration for several months, with the president first mentioning it on July 13 before senior military officers.

Sources told the newspaper that scenarios envision recruiting between 10,000 and 50,000 people annually.

According to various French media outlets, the service would last 10 months and provide a monthly pay of several hundred euros.

French armed forces have around 200,000 active-duty personnel and 47,000 reservists, and are expected to reach 210,000 and 80,000, respectively, by 2030.

Mobilising part of an age cohort on a voluntary basis could help meet the need to “build the necessary mass” to sustain operations over time in the event of a conflict, as estimated this summer by General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army.

The expected decisions are also likely to concern the uncertain future of the Universal National Service (SNU) for 15 to 17-year-olds.

This civil service, launched in 2019 and whose budget has since been cut, never really found its rhythm. It mainly consisted of a two-week cohesion training program.

France previously had compulsory military service, which was suspended under Law No. 97‑1019 on October 28 1997, rather than fully abolished, meaning it could be reinstated if necessary.

The last conscripts left the army around 2001 as France transitioned to a fully professional military.

In place of conscription, France introduced a one-day “Defence and Citizenship Day” program for 16–18-year-olds.

The law still allows parliament to reinstate conscription if national defence requires it.

By Jeyhun Aghazada