• French President Emmanuel Macron announces a voluntary military service program for youth.
• The initiative aims to respond to rising threats from Russia and bolster France's defenses.
• Initial enlistment will start with 3,000 volunteers, expanding to 50,000 by 2035.
• Volunteers will serve in France only, for a duration of 10 months, with monthly pay between €800 and €1,000.
• Macron assures that young recruits will not be sent to active combat zones, specifically mentioning Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new voluntary military service as part of a strategy to bolster the nation's defenses against escalating geopolitical threats, especially from Russia. This initiative, which will begin in 2026, permits young individuals aged 18 and 19 to engage in a 10-month military service program aimed at increasing France's military capabilities. Macron emphasized the importance of preparation to avoid danger, stating, "The only way to avoid danger is to prepare for it," according to Le Monde and Reuters.

During a speech at a military base in Varces, in the French Alps, Macron specified that the initial target for this program would be 3,000 volunteers next year, with ambitions to foster 50,000 by 2035. He reiterated that this voluntary service will allow France to maintain a non-compulsory military structure while addressing the need for readiness against potential confrontations. "We cannot return to the time of conscription... but we need mobilisation to defend ourselves," he asserted, according to South China Morning Post and Le Monde.

The program emphasizes that young volunteers will serve only in France's mainland and overseas territories, deliberately excluding deployment in military operations abroad. Macron aimed to alleviate fears regarding potential involvements in conflicts like the ongoing situation in Ukraine, clarifying, "We must immediately dispel any confusion that we are going to send our young people to Ukraine," as stated in multiple sources, including BBC and Africanews.

Macron's announcement is accompanied by a commitment of an additional €6.5 billion (approximately $7.6 billion) in military spending over the next two years, aimed at enhancing France's overall military budget to approx €64 billion (around $74 billion) by 2027, doubling the expenditure since he took office in 2017. The military currently consists of around 200,000 active personnel and over 40,000 reservists, but aims to expand this to 100,000 reservists by 2030, thereby reinforcing national defense in the face of perceived threats, notably from Russia, according to BBC and South China Morning Post.

The implementation of this voluntary military service reflects a shift in military strategy across Europe as various nations reassess their defense policies amidst rising tensions. Other nations, like Germany and Belgium, are also moving towards similar voluntary military service programs, indicating a broader trend in European defense readiness in reaction to Russia's actions, as demonstrated in reports by Reuters and Le Monde.