French President Emmanuel Macron is launching a new voluntary military service for young citizens, aiming to fortify France’s armed forces as fears grow over Russia’s ambitions in Europe. Announced Thursday at a military base in the French Alps,

France is set to introduce voluntary military service to strengthen its armed forces against the background of growing concerns about Russia's threat to Europe

France is creating a paid, voluntary military service for young people 18- to 25-year-olds and aims to enroll up to 50,000 of them over the next decade, Macron said.

The new program seeks to bolster France's armed forces to address growing concerns over Russia's threat to European nations beyond the war in Ukraine.

President Emmanuel Macron is reviving the practice as European countries look for ways to mobilize the masses to counter Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to reintroduce voluntary military service for young people, as France joins other European nations in seeking to bolster its defence capabilities in the face of threats from Russia.

France will introduce a voluntary military service of 10 months beginning next year, President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday, in the face of what it views as a growing threat posed