European nations boost military recruitment via pay hikes and new programs amid security threats.
[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]
The war in Ukraine has spurred a wave of military recruitment across Europe due to shortages in both active and reserve forces. European nations are employing various tactics to boost public interest in military service, ranging from increased pay and better benefits to different forms of communication with young people. Some countries focus on motivating volunteers, while others, like Poland and Lithuania, respond to the growing threat from Russia or consider reinstating mandatory service due to changes in US policy.
Poland is implementing significant changes, including plans for compulsory basic training for all adult men as part of a goal to create a half-million-strong army, alongside developing volunteer practices and weekend training programs. Germany aims to increase its Bundeswehr to 203,000 by 2031 but faces retention issues, prompting measures like longer notice periods and renewed debate over mandatory service.
Lithuania reinstated compulsory military service after the annexation of Crimea and is now considering extending it to women, while also seeing a significant rise in interest among shooting clubs. Bulgaria has raised army salaries by 30% due to vacancies and is exploring forms of compulsory training for specific roles. Spain increased its defense budget to address declining troop numbers.
The European Union is pursuing large-scale defense plans, partly through joint borrowing, which has encouraged Germany’s significant defense spending. Austria is seeing slow but positive changes in its military recruitment trend, driven by perceived threats and increased defense spending. The Czech Republic is addressing low morale and retention issues by increasing recruitment bonuses and offering better benefits, aiming for 30,000 active soldiers by 2030. Hungary has significantly increased its defense spending and offers recruits financial security, housing assistance, and improved medical care, though inflation has eroded real wage increases.
