France launches youth military service program.

President Emmanuel Macron announced a new national service for 18- and 19-year-olds, beginning with 3,000 volunteers next summer and expanding to 50,000 annually by 2035. Participants will train for a month, serve nine months in units across France and overseas territories, then join the reserve or pursue careers in the military. The plan comes as France doubles defense spending to €64 billion by 2027 and aims to expand its reservist force to 80,000. Other European nations, including Germany, Belgium, and Poland, are also strengthening voluntary military programs amid growing concerns over Russia.

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https://apnews.com/article/france-macron-voluntary-military-service-russia-war-b4e718e8f3ddd4f807c503e5425fc018