Summary
Some European countries are strengthening their military forces by using both mandatory and voluntary military service. The ongoing war in Ukraine has led to concerns about future conflicts, encouraging NATO countries to reconsider their military strategies. Conscription is used in some nations, while others focus on forming professional or volunteer-based armies.
Key Facts
- Nine NATO countries in Europe still use conscription: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and Turkey.
- Turkey has the second largest military in NATO and requires military service from men aged 20 to 41.
- Norway conscripts both men and women generally for 12 months.
- Belgium and the Netherlands have started new voluntary military service programs.
- Poland plans large-scale military training for all adult men, aiming for an army of 500,000.
- Germany ended compulsory military service in 2011 but plans to introduce voluntary service.
- Germany aims to expand its military to 260,000 active personnel and 200,000 reservists by 2035.
- Iceland does not have a regular military, but its Coast Guard handles some defense tasks.
