Guido Crosetto, Italian Minister of Defense Photo: Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
The Italian Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, proposed on Thursday the reintroduction of voluntary military service in Italy – 20 years after the abolition of compulsory military service – in the face of potential new external threats such as Russia, reports ANSA, taken over by Agerpres.
Crosetto, on a working visit to Paris, stated that he will present a draft law in this regard to the cabinet and the parliament.
“The reintroduction of a military service in Italy, as in France and Germany – if the Parliament decides this, yes. I intend to propose, first to the Council of Ministers and then to the Parliament, a draft law for debate that will guarantee the defense of the country in the coming years and which will not only refer to the number of soldiers, but also to the organization and rules”, he told the TG3 station.
The minister explained that it is a system that, in some respects, would not be very different from the German one, being based on volunteering. He insisted that the proposal to reintroduce military service in Italy, which will be contained in a draft law, envisages a voluntary system, as in France and Germany, and not a mandatory service.
Europe's armies will get bigger
Germany's government passed a bill on August 27 introducing voluntary military service, the latest move by the Berlin cabinet to bolster the country's national defense amid concerns over the threat posed by Russia. The text also paves the way for a possible re-introduction of compulsory enlistment, Reuters reports.
The German Defense Ministry hopes the six-month voluntary scheme will help double the number of trained reservists from the current level of around 100,000, and that some of the volunteers will continue their careers in active service.
France has adopted a similar measure, and President Macron announced on Thursday the program by which the French army intends to increase its forces. Nearly three decades after France scrapped compulsory military service, the head of state unveiled the new program during a visit to an infantry brigade stationed in southeastern France.
France announces introduction of voluntary military service, a response to Russian threat / Macron's warning
Macron said the voluntary program would be open to 18- and 19-year-olds, who would be paid, and would last 10 months. It will cost 2 billion euros, an amount he called “a significant and necessary effort.”
Around 80% of the volunteers will be aged 18 and 19 and the rest will be candidates aged up to 25 who have specific skills such as engineers.
