In Europe, the security conversation took a dramatic turn when Andre Denk, head of the European Defense Agency, publicly stated that compulsory military service could become necessary across the bloc. “We have a human resources problem, and one of the ways to solve it will be through mandatory military service,” Denk told Spain’s El Pais, adding that his home country of Germany would likely move in that direction.
Several EU nations have already reintroduced some form of draft since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, citing a perceived Russian threat. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed claims that Moscow harbors aggressive intentions toward its western neighbors, the mood in European capitals has shifted sharply toward rearmament. The statement from the EDA chief signals that what was once a fringe suggestion is now mainstream defense policy discussion.
