France has entered a pre-war climate for a few months. The war between Russia and Ukraine, in which the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron has so far tried to mediate without much success, has alerted the State to the possibility that the conflict could sooner or later spread to Europe. The latest to mention it was the new chief of staff, Fabien Mandon, who last week warned the French of the need to prepare “to lose their children” if they want to be credible in a war conflict. This Thursday, the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron can go a step further and announce the implementation of the new voluntary military service (SMV).
France has been studying this possibility for more than a year. The idea would be to recover a voluntary military service aimed at hosting 10,000 boys and girls for 10 months, in a first phase, and up to 50,000 by 2035. The device, he announced The Figaroit would start from the failure of the Universal National Service (SNU) and replace some existing contracts: the adapted military service in the overseas territories and the voluntary military service in metropolitan France, chosen every year by 6,000 to 10,000 young people.
The measure, suggested in the National Strategic Review published this summer, would include the payment of around 2,000 euros net per month to volunteers who enlist. “In this sense, a renewed voluntary military service could be created to offer older French people basic military training that could involve commitment,” the text specifies. The chief of staff put the lyrics to this music and explained that France seeks to double the number of reservists to 80,000, along with the 200,000 active military.
Macron and General Mandon have long been preparing public opinion for this qualitative leap in the hypothesis of a high-intensity war against Russia within three or four years. The sighting of dozens of unmanned aircraft near airports and military bases since September has already forced several countries to strengthen their defenses. “In the world we live in, one of uncertainty and rising tensions, if we really want to be safe, we must dissuade others from coming,” the president said Saturday. “We have everything to deter Moscow. What we lack is the strength to accept the damage to defend the nation. If we are not willing to do so, then we are at risk,” Mandon had observed.
Military service in France was abolished by Jacques Chirac in 1996. But discussions immediately began about its necessary reinstatement. In 2007, socialist Ségolène Royal complained that it had been a “mistake”. Marine Le Pen has proposed re-establishing it, but for a duration of three months. And in 2019, Macron ended up launching a civilian National Universal Service (NUS) aimed at restoring some social cohesion. Due to lack of funding, it ended up going bankrupt.
Germany and Belgium have launched similar initiatives. In the case of the German country, the plan is expected to come into force at the beginning of 2026 and is part of Berlin’s plans to improve its defense capacity against Russia. Thus, for the first time in 15 years, all 18-year-olds in Germany will once again have to answer the question of whether they wish to serve in the military. And whoever does so in the affirmative, and is selected, will provide the service for a minimum period of six months.
Mandon relied on this information to promote the idea. “Many neighbors in Europe are reintroducing national service,” the general told France 5 on Saturday.
The SMV would serve as a gateway to military engagement. Volunteers could also carry out missions across the country and relieve soldiers on duty. But the long-term goal of 50,000 volunteers seems unattainable. In the 1980s, volunteer-based military service attracted only just over 20,000 young people. Even the financing of these services, precisely when the country is unable to approve a budget, raises doubts.
