France has launched a recruitment campaign for a new voluntary military service aimed at young people, with the goal of forming an initial force of 3,000 troops to serve domestically. The move is framed as a response to a perceived threat from Russia, which Moscow has repeatedly denied. The campaign, announced by Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin and General Fabien Mandon, chief of staff of the armed forces, is open to all French citizens aged 18 to 25.
The new force will begin service between September and November and will be stationed exclusively on French soil. The government plans to increase recruitment to 4,000 participants in 2027 and to 10,000 annually by 2030. General Mandon described the initiative as an opportunity for citizens to contribute to the nation’s capacity to resist in an uncertain environment.
The program was initially unveiled by French President Emmanuel Macron in November, who emphasized the need for a strong army to counter the perceived threat from Russia. Macron’s comments were echoed by General Mandon, who recently stated that France must be prepared to “lose children” in a potential conflict with Russia and urged citizens to accept the possibility of suffering in order to protect the nation.
The comments have been met with criticism, with French Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel describing them as “unbearable warmongering rhetoric.” Moscow has also dismissed Western claims of a Russian threat as “nonsense” aimed at instilling fear and justifying increased military spending. Russian officials have condemned the EU’s “reckless militarization” and accused the West of preparing for a large-scale confrontation.
The launch of the new voluntary military service comes amid a wider European military buildup, with Russia accusing Western European nations of being directly involved in a proxy war in Ukraine. The move is likely to contribute to escalating tensions between Russia and the West, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggesting that Western European nations are sliding into a “Fourth Reich.” The development is expected to have significant implications for European security and will likely be closely monitored in the coming months.
