President of France Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a new voluntary military service, which will begin operating by mid-2026. This will help the country respond to growing threats, Reuters reports.
According to Macron, the voluntary service, lasting 10 months, will be available to all 18- and 19-year-olds. They will receive an allowance, and 2 billion euros have been allocated to fund the program.
In 2026 France hopes to recruit 3,000 people into the armed forces, and by 2030 to increase the number of soldiers to 10,000.
"France cannot fail to respond. My goal is to reach a youth contingent of 50,000 by 2036, depending on changing threats"
– Macron said.
Prospects for participants
After completing the 10-month service, participants will be able to remain in the armed forces, become reservists, or reintegrate into civilian life.
Mandatory military service makes no sense for France's current needs, the president believes, and he supports its 1996 abolition.
"We cannot return to conscription. This hybrid model of the army meets the threats and risks to come, uniting youth completing national service, reservists and the active military"
– he concluded.
Expansion plans
An aide to Macron said that by 2030 France intends to ensure a reserve of 100,000 people, while now it stands at only 47,000. It is planned that the total strength of the French army will be about 210,000 by 2030.
