Latvian President Calls for Conscription Across Europe to Strengthen Defense

Edgars Rinkēvičs advocates for mandatory military service as European nations bolster defenses against Russian threats.

Latvia's President Edgars Rinkēvičs urged European countries to adopt conscription to address increasing security concerns related to Russia.
Latvia reinstated mandatory military service for men aged 18-27 in 2023, aiming to expand its combat-ready forces to 61,000 personnel.
Rinkēvičs emphasized the need for Europe to increase defense spending and military capacity, describing the continent as currently 'quite weak' militarily.
While Latvia has debated conscription for women, no legal decisions have been made on the matter so far.
European leaders are responding to shifting U.S. security policies by reassessing their own defense commitments, with some nations already reintroducing conscription post-Cold War.