Europe’s Renewed Conscription Debate After Ukraine War and National Security Concerns

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Which countries have already brought back conscription? | News World

The war in Ukraine has prompted fresh discussion across Europe about reintroducing conscription (Picture: Getty Images)

The discussion of compulsory military service has been rekindled after the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky suggested World War Three has already begun.

The Ukraine-Russia war and the ongoing instability in the Middle East have renewed calls for increased defence spending and measures to improve national security in recent months.

But Zelensky’s statement, suggesting that Vladimir Putin has already ‘started’ the third world war, has brought the topic back into the fold.

Several European states already have existing laws mandating military conscription, with 13 countries requiring certain citizens to do some form of service.

Latvia recently reintroduced conscription in January 2024 – more than 16 years after it dropped the measure in 2007.

Other countries, such as Germany and Italy, are considering adopting policies to boost their armed forces.

These are the European countries where citizens are expected to serve.

Finland

Like many other Scandinavian countries, Finland conscripts all males for military service or equivalent civilian service.

It is home to roughly 5,500,000 people and boasts an army with around 16,000 to 24,000 active personnel and up to 280,000 soldiers in wartime.

Last September, WTX News went to a Finnish army base to speak to young conscripts who prepare for war.

It shares the longest land border with Russia of any NATO country, stretching 833 miles.

While the country never stopped preparing for a potential conflict after the Second World War, what was once considered a rite of passage to check off a to-do list for many young Finns has now become even more crucial after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

Depending on their role, most military conscripts serve between six and 12 months. Non-military service has a fixed length of 347 days.

Austria

Austria has mandated military service continuously since the 18th century.

All male citizens aged 18 to 25 are required to serve in the armed forces, or if they prefer, perform civilian service.

The military service lasts six months, while the alternative, which includes driving ambulances and working in retirement homes, is for nine months.

Women are not obliged to do service but may enter voluntarily.

Cyprus

Keir Starmer speaks to soldiers at RAF Akrotiri on December 10, 2024 in Akrotiri, Cyprus. Prime Minister Starmer is traveling to the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Republic of Cyprus between December 8-10. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth – WPA Pool/Getty Images)” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy”/>
Sir Keir Starmer meets soldiers at RAF Akotiri in Cyprus last December (Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Due to its precarious political relationship with neighbouring Turkey and the wider Middle East, Cyprus enforces conscription for eligible male citizens.

Men, including those born to just one Greek Cypriot parent, aged 18 or over, must serve 14 months in the Cypriot National Guard.

They are then transitioned to the country’s reserve forces, where they continue to serve until they reach 50.

Denmark

Men over 18 are conscripted for between four and 12 months of military service in Denmark.

Women are currently exempt from the obligation, but will be required to complete service from 2026, under new plans announced last year.

The Danish government has also indicated it will extend the basic service time from four to 11 months by 2026.

Estonia

Estonia currently requires all males aged between 18 and 27 to perform military service.

Those with ideological or religious objections may complete civilian national service instead.

Around 3,200 conscripts enter the forces every year in the eastern European nation, which shares a 180-mile border with Russia.

Greece

Conscription has been a core policy of Greece since 1914, with all men aged 19 to 45 required to do service.

Male citizens serve 12 months in either the army, navy or air force.

Conscientious objectors may instead perform 15 months of civilian service.

Conscription has been mandated in Greece since 1914 (Picture: NurPhoto)

Latvia

Another country bordering Russia, Latvia, reinstated compulsory military service for all men aged 18 to 27 in January 2024, having previously suspended it.

Conscripts must serve a minimum of 11 months in the National Armed Forces or National Guard.

The law allows for those who oppose service for religious or ideological reasons to serve for 11 months in one of the areas of the Ministry of Defence.

Lithuania

Lithuanian males are subject to conscription between the ages of 18 and 23.

Up to 4,000 conscripts are selected every year via a random system, although most young people have signed up voluntarily since the scheme was introduced in 2015.

There are also military volunteering opportunities for both women and those up to the age of 38.

Moldova

Moldova maintains mandatory conscription for males aged 18 and above.

Conscripts typically serve a year.

But the country is transitioning from a system of compulsory military service to professionally contracted armed forces.

Norway

Since 1907, Norway has formally had a policy of conscription, with the obligation extending to women as of 2015.

Enforcement of compulsory military service was practised loosely, with the system highly selective and not all those eligible are called up.

Sweden

Alongside neighbouring Norway, Sweden is one of just two European countries that practice conscription for both men and women.

Like Norway, all 18-year-olds are tested, but not all are required to do service.

Conscientious objectors have the right to apply for alternative service and then become part of the civilian reserve.

Sweden is one of just two European countries that officially conscript both men and women (Picture: Anadolu)

Switzerland

Swiss male citizens must complete either mandatory military service from the age of 20 or civilian service.

In a referendum held in 2013 to abolish the practice, 73 per cent voted to retain the compulsory service requirement.

Those deemed unfit for service are exempt but must pay an additional three per cent of annual income tax until the age of 37, unless they are affected by a disability.

Ukraine

Conscription was reintroduced in Ukraine in 2014 following the war in Donbas.

Current president Volodymyr Zelenskyy had originally planned to abolish mandatory service in January 2022, but was forced to change course following the Russian invasion a month later.

Men over 25 are conscripted into the forces and remain in the active reserve until 55.

Ukrainian soldiers take part in a training exercise in eastern England. Since the Russian invasion, all male citizens aged 25 and above are required to serve (Picture: AFP)

Which countries are planning to introduce conscription?

In Croatia, men aged 18 to 30 will be conscripted from 2026.

The country reintroduced the policy after a 17-year hiatus, with training expected to be shortened and focused on core military skills.

Serbia’s government announced at the end of last year that it would reinstate compulsory military service from November.

Serbian men will be required to complete compulsory military service consisting of 60 days of training and 15 days of exercises.

Other countries have announced proposals to reintroduce conscription but have yet to implement them.

Italy’s deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, proposed universal military service for six months for both men and women.

In Germany, conservative-leaning politicians have also eyed a return to mandatory service.

Politico reported that the current drive would focus on increasing voluntary recruitments but leave the door open to a possible obligatory requirement in the future.

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