France's Macron wants more young volunteers 'to reinforce' the army

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a New Year speech to the Armed Forces during a visit at the Digital Support and Cyber Command (CATNC) of the French Army in Cesson-Sevigne, near Rennes, France, 20 January 2025.

In his New Year's address to the armed forces, President Emmanuel Macron called for a revision of France's military strategy, instructing officials to submit proposals on how to adapt to modern "perils" by May. This includes measures to encourage young people to strengthen the army reserves.

Speaking in Cesson-Sevigne in northwestern France on Monday, Macron emphasised the need to build up the army reserves by encouraging more young people to join.

Macron asked the government and the armed forces to submit proposals by May on how to mobilise more young volunteers to "back up the armed forces" in case of need, seeming to acknowledge the end of the universal national service project that he had long championed.

France wants to have 210,000 active servicemen and 80,000 reservists by 2030.

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"In order to build up this reserve, the Defence and Citizenship Day will be revamped," he added without providing more details about the proposal.

France requires all citizens to participate in a one-day "Defence and Citizenship" course when they turn 18, which includes a presentation of the country's military forces and a French language test.

"We will have to do a better job of identifying volunteers," Macron said.

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France's last conscripts were demobilised in 2001.

The proposal received a cool response from the army, prompting the government to come back with proposals for a compulsory civic service instead.

"The answer will have to come from us."

(with AFP)


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