France Implements New Voluntary Military Service Amid Growing Security Concerns

Wed Nov 26 2025 14:10:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

President Emmanuel Macron revealed plans for a revamped voluntary military service aimed at enhancing France's defense capabilities while addressing the desires of the nation's youth for meaningful service.

Amidst escalating global tensions, President Emmanuel Macron is set to announce a new voluntary military service to bolster France's armed forces. The plan, expected to last 10 months with a monthly stipend of up to €1000, aims to engage young citizens without sending them to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Macron emphasized the need for France to strengthen its defense against perceived threats, particularly from Russia, while addressing misconceptions about the service's purpose.

President Emmanuel Macron said he will announce a new military service aimed at boosting French army numbers later this week.

Details are scant, but according to French media the scheme would be voluntary, remunerated, and last 10 months.

In an interview with local media he sought to reassure French people that the plan did not mean young people would be sent to fight in Ukraine.

We really need to, right now, dispel any misconception that we're going to send our young people to Ukraine, he said. That's not at all what this is about.

However, Macron stated the new framework was meant to address the desire for service among the youth - and to face the hybrid confrontation waged by Russia.

If we French want to protect ourselves... we must show that we are not weak in the face of one power that threatens us the most, he asserted.

Furthermore, he expressed the importance of public understanding of military operations, stating, It is very important that as many of our fellow citizens as possible understand what our armed forces are and how they work.

No official details on the new military service have yet been shared, though it is expected Macron will elaborate on the proposal during a visit to an army base on Thursday.

French media is reporting that the revamped voluntary military service could last 10 months, with volunteers being paid between €900 (£790) and €1000 (£880) per month, according to La Tribune Dimanche.

Conscription in France was scrapped in 1996. The current service, the Service national universel (SNU), includes only four weeks of training and community service, introduced in 2019 but without much success.

Support for the proposal has emerged from various political corners, with Raphaël Glucksmann advocating for a universal and compulsory service that fosters solidarity.

Last week, France's army chief-of-staff Gen Fabien Mandon warned that the country risks losing its children in a potential war with Russia, spotlighting the perceived need for this new military engagement.

Macron has previously highlighted an evolving historical moment, acknowledging potential shifts in alliances with the US and emphasizing Europe's need for self-reliance.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European nations, including Germany, Latvia, and Sweden, have reintegrated forms of military service to bolster defenses.