Europe Faces Military Recruitment Challenges Amid Defense Expansion

As Europe invests billions in modernizing its military capabilities with new tanks, aircraft, and missile defense systems, it confronts a pressing issue: a significant shortage of soldiers. Experts, including military analysts, highlight the urgent need for personnel to operate these advanced systems as discussions about funding continue.

Currently, over thirty European nations can mobilize nearly two million active soldiers, a figure that barely surpasses the forces that the United States can deploy independently. This count reflects only professional soldiers who are ready for immediate deployment, while additional reservists would require mobilization and equipment.

Among the ten nations with the largest active military forces, only Turkey and Greece maintain conscription, primarily due to ongoing territorial disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean. Additionally, conscription persists in countries bordering Russia, particularly in Scandinavia and the Baltic region, as well as in neutral states like Switzerland and Austria. This year, Croatia and Serbia are reintroducing conscription, while Denmark is expanding military service obligations to include women.

The regulations governing military service, including duration, age of induction, and alternative options like civil service, vary significantly across different countries. For instance, in Turkey, men aged 20 to 41 are required to serve between six to twelve months, although they can opt out for a fee or postpone service if they meet certain educational or professional criteria. Conversely, Finland mandates that men complete military, border guard, or civil service from the age of 18 for a duration of 5.5 to 12 months, after which they are placed in reserve until the age of 50, or longer for certain ranks.

Switzerland employs a militia system requiring all citizens to complete either military or civil service. The military service lasts a minimum of 245 days, while civil service is 368 days, typically undertaken between the ages of 18 and 30, with subsequent reserve obligations varying by rank.

Despite these diverse models, European nations with conscription share the challenge of maintaining a sufficient number of reservists capable of rapid deployment in emergencies. Over the past decade, many countries have significantly reduced their military personnel, not just those with conscription, but also volunteer-based forces in nations like the UK, France, and Italy, which have seen substantial reductions between 2015 and 2025. While Germany and Spain slightly increased their troop numbers, overall reserves remain low, often numbering only in the tens of thousands.

The decline in military personnel began with the abolition of conscription, starting with the UK in 1960, followed by France in 1997, Spain in 2001, and Italy in 2005. Germany was the last to suspend conscription in 2011. This transformation was driven by changing security and societal needs, with a focus shifting from traditional territorial defense to overseas missions and disaster response, for which professional soldiers were deemed more effective.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has altered the security landscape, prompting Poland to expand its volunteer military force by approximately 50,000 since the onset of the war, although the government does not plan to reintroduce conscription. Instead, it aims to implement voluntary military training for all adult men to broaden its potential military capacity.

In Poland, there is considerable debate regarding the future of conscription, with surveys indicating that 55% of the population supports its reintroduction. However, opinions diverge significantly across age groups; the younger demographic generally opposes conscription, while those over 30 largely advocate for it. The sentiment towards voluntary military training also shows a generational divide, with younger individuals less supportive.

This discussion is not limited to Poland. Across Western Europe, particularly in France and Germany, there is a notable public interest in reinstating military service obligations, unlike in countries such as Italy, the UK, and Spain, where a majority oppose reintroducing conscription. Recent polling in these countries highlights that even among older demographics, support for conscription is lacking, and among potential recruits, only about a third favor it.

In Switzerland, where conscription remains in effect, a recent study found that only 31% of respondents wished to abolish the system, although support for maintaining conscription is declining among younger individuals, dropping from nearly 50% to 39% in the 18 to 34 age group.

As the debate about military service continues, another critical question arises: how many citizens are willing to fight for their country in times of crisis? A recent survey in the UK revealed that a significant portion of the population, particularly those under 40, would refuse military service in the event of an invasion. Across the continent, willingness to defend one's nation has decreased over the years, with Gallup findings indicating that in 2024, less than half of respondents in many European countries would be willing to take up arms.

In Finland, however, the willingness to fight remains robust, with two-thirds of the populace indicating readiness to defend their country, influenced by the region's historical context and recent geopolitical developments.