The spectre of war is looming large over Europe, with the topic of conscription making a comeback in policy discussions. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Putin's bold territorial ambitions have heightened fears of an expansive European war, with France taking the move to recently send citizens a 'survival manual.'
With the US appearing hesitant to commit to Europe's defence, the continent's leaders are on a mission to strengthen their armed forces, with NATO warned by an expert that Russia could "collapse it". Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz is at the forefront, significantly boosting defence budgets.
Other nations have echoed similar commitments to hike military expenditure relative to GDP, with this revealing map showing that certain European nations spend comparatively little. During the tense years of the Cold War, a stint of military service was mandatory in most European countries.
Post-Cold War euphoria led many to abandon forced enlistment after the Soviet Union and its allies disintegrated in the early '90s, reports the Express.
Yet, in these uncertain times, some EU nations are reinstating mandatory conscription for both genders, aiming to bolster their military reserves.
Last year, Latvia reinstated compulsory service for young men, driven by the dread of a potential Russian incursion into the Baltic states. Latvia, with its extensive history under Russian rule, shares a significant border with Russia.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics has been vocal, urging European countries to emulate Latvia's proactive stance. "Seeing what is happening in the world, the decision that we took – many other European countries need to follow that," he recently remarked.
In addition to Latvia, eight EU nations still enforce compulsory military service. Countries with mandatory conscription include Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Lithuania, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden.
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Recent surveys indicate that the French and German public are behind the idea of obligatory military duty. According to a YouGov survey, 68 percent of French respondents and 58 percent of Germans support mandatory military service for young folks.
Defence Select Committee member Mike Martin told the Express that conscription would return to the UK if war with Russia erupted.
The Representative for Tunbridge Wells stated: "Obviously, if we get involved in a general war with Russia, we'll be conscripting the population - there's no question about that."
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