France to introduce voluntary military service amid threat from Russia
France will introduce a voluntary 10-month military service from mid-2026 for mainly 18–19-year-olds, paid and domestically deployed, scaling to 50,000 by 2036.
Macron to announce changes to French national service
We would be wrong to show weakness in the face of this threat from Russia. If we want to protect ourselves, we French - which is my sole concern - we must demonstrate that we are not weak against the power that threatens us the most,
Croatia reintroduces mandatory military conscription after 17 years
Croatia will reintroduce mandatory military service, enlisting about 18,000 eighteen-year-old men annually for two months of training to strengthen defence and crisis response.
Franco-German relations: Can Macron and Merz hit it off? DW 08/29/2025
France and Germany seek to reset relations as Macron and Chancellor Merz cultivate warmer ties to address shared security, defence, and European challenges.
Zelensky meets Merz in Germany for talks on Ukraine war
The chancellor charged this week, "obviously sees offers of talks as a sign of weakness" highlighting his firm stance against Putin during Zelensky's visit.