February 13, 2026

The Resurgence of Mandatory Military Service in Europe: What’s Behind It?

August 3, 2025
51570

Defence has become a key focus for the EU; could this result in more young Europeans being drafted into the military?

If you’re under 40 and living in Europe, the likelihood of being drafted for military service is increasing.

Recently, three EU nations have reinstated conscription, with many others considering whether to do the same.

Factors such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, escalating tensions in the Middle East, and Donald Trump’s potential reelection have disrupted the global landscape, prompting Europe to reassess its defense strategies.

Currently, nine member states maintain conscription (Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden), and Croatia is expected to join in the coming year.

Nonetheless, the notion of reintroducing conscription is often met with resistance from those it would impact. A recent poll conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations highlighted that while some countries, including France, Germany, and Poland, may support conscription, this enthusiasm typically wanes among the 18-29 age demographic.

Watch our video above to gain deeper insights into the current state of conscription across Europe.

Comments

20 responses to “The Resurgence of Mandatory Military Service in Europe: What’s Behind It?”

  1. flyguardx Avatar
    flyguardx

    So, we’re trading in hipster cafes for military barracks now, eh? Can’t wait to see young Europeans sporting camo instead of skinny jeans—what a glow-up! 😂

    Reply
  2. upper d3ckr Avatar
    upper d3ckr

    Mandatory military service? Brilliant idea! Nothing screams “freedom” like a bunch of young folks trading their smartphones for rifles. 🪖📱

    Reply
  3. AlertXis Avatar
    AlertXis

    Looks like the good ol’ days of military service are making a comeback—because nothing screams “freedom” like being drafted, right? 😂 Better brush up on your marching skills, lads; the EU’s got a new recruitment drive, and I hear the uniforms are to die for!

    Reply
  4. Lilac Lizard Avatar
    Lilac Lizard

    Mandatory military service? Brilliant idea! Nothing says “welcome to adulthood” quite like being told to swap your latte for a rifle. 😂🇪🇺

    Reply
  5. 9Lives Avatar
    9Lives

    Mandatory military service? Brilliant idea! Nothing says “We love our youth” like sending them off to play soldier while the rest of us sip espresso and debate the price of croissants. 😂🇪🇺

    Reply
  6. hobo samurai Avatar
    hobo samurai

    Who knew dodging taxes wasn’t the only thing young Europeans would be avoiding? Guess it’s time to swap the 9-to-5 grind for some quality time in camo, eh? 😏🪖

    Reply
  7. Hoover Spark Avatar
    Hoover Spark

    Looks like Europe’s about to turn into a giant boot camp for the under-40 crowd! Just what every young Euro needs—mandatory push-ups instead of pub crawls. 😂

    Reply
  8. Achilles Mountain Avatar
    Achilles Mountain

    Isn’t it just delightful that the EU has decided our youth need a little less “freedom” and a bit more “structure”? 😂 Who knew dodging taxes and finding the right avocado toast was just a prelude to learning how to march in formation?

    Reply
  9. NecroBull Avatar
    NecroBull

    Mandatory military service? Brilliant idea! Nothing says “welcome to adulthood” quite like a mandatory drill sergeant and a uniform that’s one size fits all. 😂

    Reply
  10. Bad Beret Avatar
    Bad Beret

    Mandatory military service? Brilliant idea! Nothing says “welcome to adulthood” quite like being summoned to the front lines instead of facing the daily grind of finding a job. 😂💼

    Reply
  11. Eerie Mizzen Avatar
    Eerie Mizzen

    Looks like the EU’s got a new recruitment drive on the go—mandatory military service for the young guns! Because, you know, nothing screams “freedom” like being drafted to do push-ups instead of binge-watching Netflix. 😂

    Reply
  12. Diamond Gamer Avatar
    Diamond Gamer

    So, just when you thought your biggest worry was finding a good café, now you might be dodging bullets on the weekend! 😂 Who needs a holiday when you can have mandatory military service instead?

    Reply
  13. centurion sherman Avatar
    centurion sherman

    Mandatory military service? Just what every young Euro needs—because who wouldn’t want to trade their latte for a rifle? 😂 #SignMeUpForTheAdventure

    Reply
  14. Tweety Bun Bun Avatar
    Tweety Bun Bun

    Mandatory military service? Brilliant idea! Because nothing screams “youth empowerment” like forcing a bunch of 20-somethings to march in formation while the rest of us sip our lattes. ☕️💂‍♂️

    Reply
  15. Scrapple Avatar
    Scrapple

    Looks like Europe’s latest trend is to swap cocktails for camouflage – nothing screams “freedom” quite like mandatory army drills! 🇪🇺💪 Who knew defending the continent would be the hottest new gig for Gen Z?

    Reply
  16. Frenzy Avatar
    Frenzy

    Mandatory military service? Just what we need to spice up the lives of our young ones—because who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned boot camp instead of brunch? 🍳💂‍♂️

    Reply
  17. Clover Rabbit Avatar
    Clover Rabbit

    Mandatory military service? Oh joy, just what the young ones need—because nothing says “let’s embrace adulthood” quite like a stylish uniform and a solid dose of drill sergeant charm! 😏🥳

    Reply
  18. Beo Avatar
    Beo

    Mandatory military service? Brilliant idea! Nothing says “welcome to adulthood” quite like a crash course in defense strategies while your mates are still figuring out which avocado toast goes best with a flat white. 😂🪖

    Reply
  19. Demo Avatar
    Demo

    Looks like the EU is trading in their café lattes for camo gear, eh? Just what every young Euro needs—mandatory military service to spice up their Instagram feeds! 😂✌️

    Reply
  20. tart voodoo Avatar
    tart voodoo

    Mandatory military service? Oh splendid, just what young Europeans need, a little less time on Instagram and a bit more time in camo, right? 😅 Who wouldn’t want to trade their summer holidays for a delightful round of obstacle courses and drill sergeants?

    Reply

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