France starts recruitment for youth army program amid Russia concerns
Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin and Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Fabien Mandon announced on Monday that all French citizens aged 18 to 25 are eligible. The initial cohort of roughly 3,000 participants will serve from September to November and remain stationed within France. Recruitment is expected to grow to 4,000 in 2027 and 10,000 annually by 2030.
General Mandon described the program as an opportunity for citizens “to play a part in the nation’s capacity to resist in an uncertain environment.”
The initiative was first unveiled by President Emmanuel Macron in November, who emphasized its “purely military” nature and the need for a “strong army” to counter the “lasting threat” from Russia. Mandon recently warned the nation must be prepared to “lose children” in any future conflict with Russia, urging citizens to “accept suffering in order to protect who we are” and suggesting that war with Russia could occur by 2028.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
