France will reintroduce a voluntary military service next year, President Emmanuel Macron announced. The program will last 10 months. It targets young adults aged 18 to 19 and aims to strengthen national defense amid Russia’s growing threat.
Macron said the program will gradually start next summer with volunteers deployed only on French soil. He emphasized it is voluntary, except in extreme crisis situations when parliament may authorize compulsory service. The plan will begin with 3,000 recruits and expand to 50,000 by 2035.
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The president highlighted that the service will provide military training, boost reserve forces, and prepare youth for national defense. Macron stressed the program will not send volunteers to Ukraine or foreign conflicts. He described the initiative as essential for France’s security and readiness.
The announcement follows controversial remarks by France’s top general, Fabien Mandon, who warned that the country must be ready “to lose its children” in a future conflict. Officials clarified that the national service is intended to alert and prepare the population, not to engage in immediate combat abroad.
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Experts say the move aligns France with several European countries, including the Baltic states and Denmark, which have revived or strengthened conscription programs. Macron and military officials stressed that the voluntary service will strengthen the army while respecting youth rights and national security needs.