EU considers mandatory military service amid rising tensions with Russia

As tensions between Europe and Russia continue to rise, many European countries are considering reintroducing mandatory military service or have already done so, according to Robert Hamilton, head of Eurasian studies at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in the United States.

According to the information , in an interview with CNN, he said the EU is coming to the realization that it may need to adjust its approaches to mobilization, military equipment production, citizen recruitment, and personnel training.

The conflict in Ukraine has served as a wake-up call for NATO, highlighting the need to restore the alliance's defensive capabilities, which includes conscription. 

According to CNN, several European countries have already taken steps towards this goal: Latvia and Norway have reintroduced mandatory military service, and Germany's Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, proposed a voluntary military service initiative in June.

Sweden plans to increase its number of conscripts to 8,000 by 2025.

Finland boasts an impressive military reserve of over 900,000 individuals, with 280,000 in the rapid response forces.

Farah Dahlalla, an official spokesperson for NATO, revealed that more than 500,000 NATO troops have been on high alert since 2014. The final declaration of the alliance's summit, held in Washington from July 9-11, reaffirmed that NATO still considers Russia its primary threat. As a result, NATO member states plan to develop recommendations for a strategic approach to dealing with Russia.





www.anews.az