Return of compulsory military service in Europe
Compulsory military service in Europe has returned, and all indications are that the pressure of Russia’s war with Ukraine has played a role.
Before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many, including Kyiv, were skeptical that a major war would return to Europe.
More than two years later, another once unthinkable change is taking place regarding conscription.
Several European countries have reintroduced or expanded conscription in the face of the growing threat from Moscow, as part of a series of policies aimed at bolstering defenses that are likely to expand further.
Robert Hamilton, head of Eurasia research at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, explained one of the reasons for the draft in Europe.
“It’s tragically true that here we are, in 2024, and we’re grappling with the questions of how to mobilize millions of people to be thrown into a meat grinder of a likely war, but this is where Russia has put us,” he said.
The risks of a major war in Europe have been rising after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin “finally resorted to open conflict” in Ukraine, pursuing his goal of “recreating the Soviet empire,” said Gen. Wesley Clark (ret.), who served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Return of compulsory military service in Europe
The return of conscription in Europe underscores the new reality in the region.
Several European countries suspended conscription after the end of the Cold War, but several nations – especially Scandinavian and Baltic countries – have reintroduced it in recent years.
Compulsory military service in Europe is largely due to the Russian threat.
Failure to enlist can lead to fines or even imprisonment in some countries.
Latvia is the latest country to implement compulsory military service in Europe.
Compulsory military service was reintroduced on January 1 this year, following its abolition in 2006.
Male citizens will report for conscription within 12 months of turning 18, or upon graduation in the case of those still in the education system.
In April, Norway unveiled an ambitious long-term plan that will nearly double the country’s defense budget and add more than 20,000 conscript soldiers, employees and reservists to the armed forces as part of a process of compulsory military service in Europe.
Military conscription in Norway is compulsory and in 2015 it became the first member of the NATO defensive alliance to conscript men and women on equal terms.
But perhaps the most striking transformation is taking place in Germany, which since the end of World War II has shown an aversion to militarization.
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In another first since the Cold War, Germany this year updated its plan should conflict break out in Europe, and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in June presented a proposal for a new voluntary military service.
One of NATO’s newest members, Finland, has the capacity to activate more than 900,000 reservists, with 280,000 military personnel ready to respond immediately in case of need.
Norway and Sweden, NATO’s newest member, have similar models, and both maintain significant numbers of reservists, although not as many as Finland.
