In Response to Russian Threats, France to Reinstate Voluntary Military Service Next Year | WPN World People News

French President Emmanuel Macron on the 27th formally announced that, in response to increasingly serious international threats, France will reinstate the voluntary military service system—abolished nearly 30 years ago—to encourage young people to enlist and strengthen the nation’s defense capabilities.

The program is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026, recruiting 3,000 volunteers aged 18 to 19, with an upper age limit of 25. Both men and women may apply, and the service period will be ten months. A small number of older applicants with specialized backgrounds—such as in medicine or engineering—may also participate. Monthly pay will be at least 800 euros (about NT$30,000). The number of recruits will increase each year, with plans to expand to 10,000 by 2030 and 50,000 by 2035. The total budget for the program is 2 billion euros (about NT$73.5 billion).

Recruitment will be entirely voluntary and candidates will be selected based on the needs of the armed forces. To strengthen reserve capabilities, volunteers will only be assigned to missions within France in order to enhance national defense readiness. France currently has 200,000 active-duty soldiers and 47,000 reservists; these numbers are expected to grow to 210,000 and 80,000 respectively by 2030.