Reference News, July 7 report - According to the Japanese Asahi Shimbun website on July 5, in the context of responding to the "threat" from Russia and the Trump administration pressuring Europe to "independently address" security challenges, more European countries are beginning to seek the restoration of conscription and the expansion of reserve forces. Although there are opinions opposing mandatory conscription, the key lies in how to gain public support.

On a day in early May, ordinary Polish citizens received shooting training at a military facility in Dębno in eastern Poland under the guidance of soldiers. This is a one-day regular civilian military training conducted by the Polish army. On that day, about 150 people of different genders and age groups participated in the training. In addition to learning how to use firearms and gas masks and how to start a fire with branches, they also practiced how to throw hand grenades.

A military official said that a small portion of the trainees were inclined to enlist. He stated that the purpose of this training was "to equip the public with basic knowledge for emergencies and encourage them to join the military."

Poland abolished conscription in 2009, but Prime Minister Tusk said in March this year that the country needs a military force of 500,000, more than twice the current number, including reserve personnel. The Polish government will conduct longer-term military training for adults who are willing to enlist. The goal is to have 100,000 people trained each year starting from 2027, which will significantly increase the number of reserve personnel.

At the same time, Baltic and Nordic countries, which are also close to Russia, are restoring or strengthening conscription systems that were abolished after the Cold War.

This trend originated from the Crimean crisis in 2014. Lithuania restored conscription in 2015, Sweden in 2018, and Latvia in 2024.

In 2024, Denmark included women in the conscription. The country's Prime Minister Frederiksen said at a press conference: "We are preparing for conscription, not because we want to go to war, but because we want to avoid war." The revised law came into effect on the first of this month, and compulsory military service for both men and women will begin in 2026. Denmark has become the third country in Europe, after Norway and Sweden, to implement conscription for women.

According to a conscription report released by the European Parliament in March, nine of the 27 EU member states have already implemented conscription.

The report pointed out that the Trump administration's attitude towards intervening in European security affairs was passive, and some European countries are also studying how to provide security guarantees for Ukraine after the signing of a peace agreement with it, these realities have intensified the sense of crisis in various countries. The report also analyzed that after witnessing the Russia-Ukraine war, the support for conscription among the populations of many countries has increased.

NATO has also called on member states not only to increase defense budgets but also to expand the manpower, which has further strengthened the movement to strengthen conscription.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at the beginning of June that Germany alone needs an additional 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers to achieve NATO's goals.

The German government plans to require males over the age of 18 to answer a questionnaire about military service and conduct work for those who are willing to enlist. If the shortage of personnel continues, the government will consider resuming the conscription system that was suspended in 2011.

However, there are strong criticisms and opposition voices that argue that mandatory conscription hinders the studies and jobs of young people. A survey conducted by the company YouGov between February and March in Germany showed that the number of people supporting the restoration of conscription (58%) was higher than those opposing (34%), but when the survey was limited to the age group of 18 to 29, the opposition ratio rose to 61%.

In France, since the 2017 presidential election, President Macron has been exploring the possibility of restoring conscription. In March this year, he hinted at the idea of recruiting young volunteers, but it seems there is currently no hope of realizing it.

Therefore, some countries have taken flexible approaches. Lithuania restored conscription in 2015, and annually selects up to 4,000 men aged 18 to 23 through a lottery system to serve for 9 months, but they can apply for deferment or exemption from service due to attending university or health reasons. Additionally, creative thinking is needed to ensure sufficient personnel while calming the opposition and dissatisfaction with conscription. (Translated/ Liu Lin)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7524151522540683814/

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