The EU discusses the return of military conscription amid Trump's turnaround towards Russia - Media.

European countries are considering the possibility of reinstating mandatory military service

European countries are considering the possibility of reinstating mandatory military service in order to strengthen their defense capability against Russian expansionism. Lithuania, Sweden, and Latvia have already reinstated military conscription, and some are suggesting following their example.

The threat of Russian aggression is recognized by military analysts as well as European governments. This threat is now greater than it was three years ago, reports France24.

According to the Heidelberg University Institute of Political Science, the Bruegel think tank, and the Kiel Institute, to deter aggression from Russia, Europe needs an additional 300,000 military personnel on top of the 1.47 million already in service. However, countries such as France and the United Kingdom are facing issues with recruitment and retention of military personnel.

Implementing any form of national service, whether mandatory or voluntary, may be even more difficult.

Most French people generally support the reinstatement of military service (86%) and even mandatory service (53%), according to an Ipsos-CESI poll.

According to a YouGov poll, the majority of residents in Germany (58%) support mandatory military service for young people, while opinions among Italians and British are divided, and the majority of Spaniards (53%) are against it.

After the end of the Cold War, most European countries abolished compulsory military conscription. Only nine countries, such as Greece, Cyprus, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Turkey, have never abolished it.

In 2015, Lithuania reinstated military conscription, a year after Crimea was annexed by Russia. Sweden followed their example in 2017, while Latvia did so in 2023.

Poland, which abolished military conscription in 2008, plans to introduce military training for 100,000 civilians per year starting in 2027.

The future Chancellor of Germany, Merz, supports the introduction of a mandatory year during which young people could serve either in the military or in civil service. The Italian Minister of Defense excludes the possibility of reintroducing mandatory service but supports the idea of creating reserve forces.

In the United Kingdom, the last national servicemen were discharged in 1963, and the government has no intention of changing this policy. France also halted mandatory military service in 2001; however, President Macron expressed the desire to explore options for mobilizing civilians.

Researchers believe that Western European politicians should study the experience of Scandinavian and Baltic countries, particularly Finland and Sweden. Finland, which has a long border with Russia and experienced the USSR invasion in 1939, has one of the largest reserve forces in Europe.