Russia-Ukraine war brings back conscription to Europe

Before you start War in Ukraine No one believed that the threat of war actually existed in Europe. However, two years later, with military operations in Moscow and Kiev in full swing, Many European countries seem to be “turning on” their war machines.In an attempt to “protect” themselves from generalized conflict.

to publish CNN It is noteworthy that many European countries have returned it. compulsory military service Or extended its duration with the registration of a series of measures targeting it Strengthen defense From the concerned states.

We realize that We must change the way we mobilize for war, The way we produce military equipment and recruit and train people.”Robert Hamilton, head of Eurasia research at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, who served as a U.S. military officer for 30 years, said.

“That in 2024 we are facing challenges of how to mobilize millions of people to fight is a tragic reality, but that is where Russia has taken us.”“, stated.

The danger of a general war in Europe has increased since then. “open conflict Russian President Vladimir Putin With Ukraine, through which he is trying to recreate the Soviet empire.“It’s a very good thing,” said retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe and led alliance forces during the Kosovo War.

“That’s why we have a war in Europe that we never thought we’d see again.” he added. “It is not clear now whether we are living a new Cold War or an emerging new one. But it is one.” NATO warned to rebuild defences“He pointed out that this is why changes to conscription must be made first.

Back to conscription

Many European countries ended conscription after the end of the Cold War, but many countries – especially in Europe – stopped conscription after the end of the Cold War. Scandinavian countries delusion Baltic States – They have brought it back in recent years, mainly due to the Russian threat.

the Latvia It is the latest country to reinstate conscription on January 1, 2024, 18 years after it was abolished in 2006.

in April, Norway It unveiled an ambitious long-term plan that would nearly double the country’s defense budget and add more than 20,000 conscripts, employees and reservists to the armed forces. “We need a defense that meets the new security conditions.”Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said.

Conscription is mandatory in Norway, and in 2015 it became the first NATO member to conscript men and women equally.

Discussions about compulsory conscription are also taking place in other European countries, such as in United kingdom, The Conservatives expressed this idea during the pre-election period.

But perhaps the most surprising “turn” in terms of compulsory military service occurred in the United States. Germany, CNN, which after the end of World War II felt aversion to militarism, also noted.

But this year, for the first time since the Cold War, the country has updated its plan for conflict in Europe, with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius unveiling a proposal for a new voluntary military service in June. “We must be ready for war by 2029”He said.

NATO relies on US forces

With conscription remaining an unpopular issue in some countries, NATO is striving to meet its new goal of having 300,000 troops ready to mobilize within a month and another half a million within six months.Sean Monaghan, a fellow with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said:

“While NATO says it has already achieved this goal, the EU insists that its members will face difficulties. NATO relies on US forces to achieve its goal. European allies will have to find new ways to find the necessary personnel. Something has to change here.” he added.

Another problem is that This goal would allow NATO to fight only a relatively short conflict, lasting up to six months.“, Write.

Finland – Sweden: Large reserve armies

The possible solution is one. A more flexible and modern armyCNN confirms.

One of the newest members of NATO. FinlandIt has the capacity to activate over 900,000 reserve troops, with 280,000 soldiers ready to respond immediately if necessary. However, in peacetime, the Finnish Defence Forces employ only about 13,000 people, including civilian employees.

“Finland is a good example” “Historically, it was a wedge between NATO and the Soviet Union, and it wasn’t allied with anyone, so it needed to be able to defend itself by itself,” said Hamilton of the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

the Norway And the Sweden – The newest NATO member – has similar models, and maintains large reserves, though not as many as Finland. Sweden has called up about 7,000 people for compulsory conscription in 2024, and according to the Swedish Armed Forces, that number will rise to 8,000 next year.

Is NATO ready for war?

NATO has been reviewing its strategy and building capabilities over the past decade in response to the growing threat from Moscow. Its all-out offensive from Russia In Ukraine in 2022, this inevitably led the Allies to reconsider whether they were prepared for war and bolster their defenses.

“Since 2014, NATO has undergone the most significant transformation in our collective defence in a generation.”NATO spokeswoman Farah Dakhlallah told CNN:“We have put in place the most comprehensive defence plans since the Cold War, with more than 500,000 troops on high alert.”

But there are demands on the allies to increase their capabilities more and faster.

While NATO allies “They’re definitely ready to fight tonight.”continues to do so. There is a question about whether they are prepared for a long-term war like the one in Ukraine, Monaghan noted that “there is still a lot of work to be done” in many areas, such as industrial capacity, defence spending and societal resilience – where the issue of conscription will arise.

How to recruit and train the army is a decision for each country to make individually, Dakhlallah said, adding: “About a third of NATO members are subject to some form of compulsory military service.”

“Some allies are considering conscription. But, As an alliance, we do not propose compulsory military service.” He said. ““The important thing is that the allies continue to have armed forces capable of protecting our territories and our people.” he added.

They will complicate it. American elections Developments in Europe? Absolutely yes. Things would be very different if that happened. Donald trump card — who said he would encourage Russia to do “whatever it wants” to any NATO country that does not meet the alliance’s spending guidelines — is back in the White House.