France announces new military service program to address Russian threat
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a new voluntary military service program aimed at 18- and 19-year-olds to strengthen france’s defense capabilities amid ongoing threats posed by Russian aggression. The program, unveiled during a speech at the Varces military base, will begin this summer and offer participants a paid 10-month service either in mainland France or overseas French territories. After completing their service, volunteers can choose to continue in the armed forces, join the reserves, or return to civilian life. Macron emphasized that this initiative is a modern option to conscription, designed to create a hybrid military model combining young national service members, reservists, and active troops. The French government is allocating $2.32 billion to the project, aiming to enlist 3,000 volunteers next year and expand to 10,000 by 2030, with a long-term goal of 50,000 by 2035 depending on future threats. Macron stressed the importance of demonstrating strength to deter Russia’s strategic ambitions, also noting that several European countries have committed to providing military support in Ukraine if a peace agreement with Russia is reached.
France announces new military service program to address Russian threat to Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday announced the creation of a new military program for 18 and 19-year-olds to help their country bolster its defenses against Russian aggression.
Macron unveiled the program, a volunteer service, during a speech at the Varces military base on Thursday.
“A new national service is set to be gradually established, starting from this summer,” Macron said. “In this uncertain world where power prevails over law and war is an ever-present reality, our nation has no right to fear, panic, unpreparedness, or division.”
The volunteer program would take young men and women for 10-month paid stints inside France and overseas French territories.
Following their participation, volunteers would then choose to either remain in the armed forces, transition to a reserve status, or return to civilian life.
“We cannot return to the time of conscription,” Macron said. “This hybrid army model corresponds to the threats and risks ahead, bringing together national service youth, reservists, and the active army.”
The French government is prepared to spend $2.32 billion on the effort, which it hopes will enlist 3,000 people next year and build out to 10,000 members of the volunteer service by the end of the decade.
“My ambition for France is to reach 50,000 youth by 2035, depending on evolving threats,” Macron said. “France cannot remain idle.”
The French president has been clear that he aims to project strength and military preparedness to deter future threats of Russian aggression.
“The day that you send a signal of weakness to Russia, which for 10 years has made a strategic choice to become an imperial power again, that’s to say advance wherever we are weak – well, it will continue to advance,” Macron told French radio outlet RTL on Tuesday.
Macron was among several European leaders who volunteered their national military personnel to enter Ukraine as a “reassurance force” following a hypothetical peace deal with Russia.
EUROPE WILLING TO PUT TROOPS IN UKRAINE ON ‘THE DAY THE PEACE IS SIGNED’ WITH RUSSIA
“We have about 20 countries that have already said what they are prepared to do actively, either in the air, on land, or at sea,” he explained.
The French president said such forces could be in Ukraine as early as “the day the peace is signed.”
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