Alps Chill: France Reinstates Military 🇫🇷⚔️

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President Emmanuel Macron will announce the restoration of national military service on Thursday, a move intended to bolster French defenses in response to growing concerns regarding Russia’s threats to European nations. The announcement follows a week after France’s new army chief cautioned that the country must be prepared to lose its children in a potential conflict with Russia. From 1000 GMT, Macron will deliver a speech from an infantry brigade stationed in the Alps in southeastern France, a presidential official indicated, requesting anonymity. Almost three decades after France abolished conscription, the head of state is unveiling this change in response to the ongoing threat posed by Russia and the possibility of a new conflict emerging in Europe. The announcement comes more than three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Macron and other French officials repeatedly warning that Moscow’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine’s borders.

France will introduce a new national military service program on Thursday, spearheaded by President Emmanuel Macron, in an effort to strengthen French defenses amid escalating concerns regarding Russia’s ongoing threat to European nations. This move follows a week during which France’s top general faced significant criticism after stating the country must be “prepared to lose its children” in the event of a conflict. President Macron argued that the public reaction to the general’s remarks indicated a failure to adequately communicate the seriousness of the situation. However, ahead of Thursday’s announcement, Macron and other French officials have worked to quell the uproar caused by the general’s blunt assessment and anxieties about French youth potentially being deployed to the front lines. Macron emphasized Tuesday that the government intends to dispel any notion of sending young people to Ukraine, highlighting the strategy as a core element of bolstering French defenses against the persistent threat posed by Russia.

President Emmanuel Macron will announce a new national military service program on Thursday, aiming to strengthen French defenses in response to escalating concerns regarding Russia’s threat to European nations. The move follows a week after France’s recently appointed army chief sparked controversy with a stark warning that the country must be prepared to potentially lose its citizens in a conflict with Russia. Speaking from an infantry brigade stationed in the Alps in southeastern France at 1000 GMT, President Macron will outline this significant shift, more than three and a half years after France discontinued compulsory military service. The announcement coincides with Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and comes amidst warnings from French officials that Moscow’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine’s borders. Notably, military service opportunities remain uneven across Europe, however, France will join nations like Latvia and the Baltic states in bolstering its defense posture.

Lithuania has recently reintroduced military service, while countries like Denmark have strengthened their requirements. Currently, there is no indication that military service in France will become compulsory, as it was before President Jacques Chirac abolished conscription in 1997 as part of a broader army reform. Military service is viewed as a method for strengthening armies with new recruits and creating a substantial reserve force that could be mobilized in the event of future conflict. The French armed forces consist of approximately 200,000 active military personnel and 47,000 reservists, figures projected to rise to 210,000 and 80,000, respectively, by 2030.

On November 11, 2025, the anniversary of the end of World War I, Macron is scheduled to announce that France is restoring military service on a voluntary basis, driven by the escalating threat posed by Russia and the potential for renewed conflict in Europe. This announcement will occur more than three and a half years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with French President Macron and other officials emphasizing Moscow’s potential expansion beyond Ukraine’s borders. The head of state is set to unveil this change in a speech delivered at 1000 GMT during a visit to an infantry brigade stationed in the Alps in southeastern France, according to a presidential official who requested anonymity. Last week, Chief of Staff Fabien Mandon sparked controversy at home by speaking out on the issue.

France’s chief of staff, General Fabien Mandon, sparked considerable debate last week by warning that France must be prepared to lose its citizens, while simultaneously stating that Russia is “preparing for a confrontation by 2030 with our countries.” President Macron, speaking to RTL, announced he would be unveiling a “transformation of national service into a new form” on Thursday, but offered no further specifics at the time. Additionally, viewers are reminded that to display the YouTube content, advertisement tracking and audience measurement must be enabled. One of your browser extensions may be interfering with the video player’s loading; you may need to disable it on this site to continue viewing.

France’s top general remains unapologetic after suggesting the country must be prepared to lose children, sparking accusations of warmongering from the left. Speaking on Saturday, General Mandon defended his comments from last week, stating that they were intended to “alert and prepare” citizens amid a “rapidly deteriorating” global context. He argued that the reactions to his remarks indicated that the issue was not sufficiently understood by the French population. President Macron is scheduled to announce on Thursday the restoration of military service in France on a voluntary basis, responding to the growing threat posed by Russia and the risk of a new conflict emerging in Europe. Almost three and a half years after France abolished conscription, Macron will outline this change in a speech at 1000 GMT, delivered during a visit to an infantry brigade stationed in the Alps in southeastern France, according to a presidential source who requested anonymity. The announcement comes as Russia continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to announce a “transformation of national service into a new form” this Thursday, despite ongoing concerns about Russia’s risks beyond Ukraine’s borders. Speaking to RTL broadcaster, Macron did not elaborate on the specifics of the change. The announcement, occurring more than three and a half years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, will take place during a speech from 1000 GMT on a visit to an infantry brigade stationed in the Alps in southeastern France, according to a presidential official who wished to remain anonymous. While approximately a dozen states maintain some form of conscription, its implementation varies across Europe. France would join countries such as Latvia and Lithuania, which have reinstated conscription in recent years, while others, including Denmark, have intensified its requirements. Notably, there is currently no indication that military service in France will be compulsory, as it was before then-President Jacques Chirac abolished conscription in 1997 as part of an army reform. Military service is viewed as a means of strengthening armed forces with recruits and also establishing a large reserve pool that could be mobilized in the event of future conflict.

Guinea-Bissau’s military presence is projected to expand significantly, with current numbers standing at approximately 200,000 active military personnel and 47,000 reservists. Officials anticipate these figures will rise to 210,000 and 80,000, respectively, by the year 2030. President Embalo confirmed to FRANCE 24 that he has been deposed.