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Macron Launches Voluntary Youth Military Service Amid Rising Global Threats

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French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday a new voluntary youth military service set to begin by mid-2026, aiming to strengthen the nation’s defense in the face of “accelerating threats” worldwide. Open to 18- and 19-year-olds, the program will last 10 months, offer pay, and initially engage 3,000 participants on French soil, expanding to 10,000 by 2030. The initiative is part of a broader European trend, aligning France with countries like Germany and Denmark, and will cost an estimated 2 billion euros ($2.32 billion).

Macron emphasized that the program is not a return to conscription, which was abolished by Jacques Chirac in 1996, but rather a “hybrid army model” combining national service youth, reservists, and the active military. Participants could integrate into civilian life, continue as reservists, or join the armed forces full-time. France also plans to expand its pool of reservists to 100,000 by 2030, up from around 47,000 today, with total military strength reaching approximately 210,000.

The announcement comes amid controversy sparked by comments from General Fabien Mandon, France’s armed forces chief, who suggested that France may need to endure losses in the face of Russian aggression. Macron clarified that the youth program would not involve sending French volunteers to Ukraine, while political figures defended Mandon’s blunt remarks as a necessary warning to the public.

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Germany Approves New Military Service Plan to Expand Bundeswehr

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Germany’s coalition government has agreed on a new military service plan aimed at significantly expanding the Bundeswehr amid growing security concerns in Europe. Starting next year, all 18-year-old men will be required to complete a military service questionnaire, with women participating voluntarily. From 2027, mandatory medical examinations for men will follow. The plan is designed to help Germany build Europe’s strongest conventional army and could pave the way for compulsory enlistment if targets aren’t met.

The government aims to boost active troop strength from around 182,000 to as many as 260,000 by 2035, supported by an additional 200,000 reservists. Defence leaders—including Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger—believe the goal is achievable within five years, especially as NATO pressures member states to strengthen defence capabilities in response to potential threats from Russia. Recent warnings from German defence officials have emphasised the need to be fully prepared by 2029.

However, the plan faces strong opposition from Germany’s political left and many young people, who argue that compulsory service infringes on personal freedom. Protests have emerged, with some youths expressing fear of being drawn into conflict, while others have voluntarily enlisted citing a desire to protect democracy. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has attempted to reassure the public, insisting that a stronger, better-equipped military serves as a deterrent and reduces the likelihood of Germany entering a conflict.

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Russia luring migrants from Finnish border for war in Ukraine

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Russia has been recruiting foreign migrants detained at its border with Finland for military service in Ukraine, as evidenced by several cases reported by the BBC. This practice involves coercing individuals in pre-deportation detention centers to sign contracts for army service. While this tactic is not new, the numbers increased significantly as foreign migrants arrived at Russia’s border with Finland. Finland temporarily closed its Russian border crossings, accusing Moscow of using migrants as part of a destabilization campaign after Finland joined NATO.

In the past three weeks, 236 people in Karelia, one of the three Russian regions bordering Finland, were arrested for staying in Russia without valid visas. The pattern was similar in the other two border regions of Leningrad and Murmansk. Migrants, including a Somali man identified as Awad, detained for immigration violations, were approached by military representatives and offered a job in the Russian army, promising good pay, medical care, and permission to stay in Russia upon completing a one-year army contract.

The influx of migrants at Finland’s border led to accusations that Russia encouraged the surge, bypassing visa checks and organizing the distribution of bicycles for migrants. Awad, who had arrived in Russia in mid-July and attempted to enter Poland via Belarus, hired a taxi in November to reach the Finnish border. After being detained, he and others were pressured to sign army contracts to avoid deportation.

The report mentions an Iraqi man facing deportation who claimed he was also pressured to sign an army contract due to the danger he faced in Iraq. According to a representative from the Somali community in Belarus, at least 60 Somali nationals in Russian detention centers were approached by military recruiters, with some reportedly agreeing to sign contracts with the Russian army.

Awad and his group realized they were being sent to fight in Ukraine when they reached a military camp at the border. Despite threats of long prison sentences, the detainees demanded the annulment of their contracts. Some received letters confirming the cancellation, but they remain in the military camp. Awad insists he was deceived and did not fully understand the contract, emphasizing that he is an asylum seeker, not a soldier. The BBC has sought comment from the Russian interior ministry regarding the allegations.

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