Name: Military conscription — would you be ready to answer the call?
Uploaded: 2025-11-27T08:52:27.633Z
Duration: 1 min 50 s
Description: For some of us, war still sounds like a distant threat. But if it were to come, who would be called to the front line?

For some of us, war still sounds like a distant threat. But if it were to come, who would be called to the front line?

Berlin

European nations are revisiting military conscription in response to heightened security concerns, particularly regarding a potential confrontation with Russia by 2030. Ten EU countries currently have compulsory service for men, and Germany plans to survey 18-year-olds about military service, though its constitution prohibits drafting women.

In contrast, Nordic countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Norway have implemented gender-equal conscription, and Ukraine has seen significant female participation in its armed forces. The report highlights the financial and societal trade-offs of maintaining large armies and questions whether Europeans would be prepared to serve if conflict reaches their borders.

Military conscription — would you be ready to answer the call?

We need to accept losing our children in order to protect who we are. That was a recent chilling warning from French Army Chief of Staff about a potential confrontation with Russia by 2030. For some of us, war still sounds like a distant threat. But when it comes, who will be called to the front line? All over Europe, conscription is back. Ten EU countries already have compulsory service for men, from Cyprus to Finland. Next year, Germany is set to send military questionnaires to 18-year-olds. But there is a catch. Their constitution bans drafting women. So while men must answer, for women it remains voluntary. But is war just a man's thing? In the Nordics, it's equal. Denmark and Sweden draft women and Norway was the first NATO ally to do so. And in Ukraine, over 70,000 women serve, with 20,000 in combat roles. That is almost equal to the entire combined armies of Belgium and the Netherlands. Big armies drain funds from healthcare and innovation. But as Ukraine proves, the price of sovereignty is high. NATO allies could say that they have the luxury of debating this only because Ukrainians are still holding the line. If they had given up, the war wouldn't be on their doorstep. It would be on ours. If this comes, would you be ready to answer the call?

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