Overview

• Latvia reintroduced conscription in 2023 for men aged 18 to 27, citing the need for 61,000 combat-ready troops to address regional security risks.
• Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics has called on European countries to adopt conscription, describing the continent's military capacity as insufficient.
• Several European nations, including Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, have reinstated or expanded conscription in recent years, primarily in response to Russian aggression.
• The UK government has ruled out reintroducing conscription for now but acknowledged the need to adapt defense policies to evolving global threats.
• European leaders recently met to discuss strengthening defense capabilities, as the U.S. signals reduced security guarantees for Europe and emphasizes increased NATO spending.