Croatia has said it will reintroduce compulsory two-month military service starting in 2025, local media is reporting.
From January 1, Croatians will be required to serve in the army amid growing international tensions, Defence Minister Ivan Anusic announced late on August 15.
The country had abolished conscription in 2008, transitioning to a volunteer-based system. Defence force sources say, “Two months full-time training is usually more than enough to train a civilian into a basic infantryman.”
Speaking to local media, Anusic also said that the country would increase the pay for soldiers, and that the government would not consider cutting defence spending in the foreseeable future, despite issues within the European economy.
“We increased the salaries of soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers, their material rights not only through personal income but also through daily wages and everything they are entitled to,” the minister told the Croatian broadcaster RTL.
“The modernisation and equipment of the Armed Forces is proceeding as planned and in accordance with the agreement with our allies and the NATO leadership.”
“We anticipate a significantly enhanced and more robust image of our Armed Forces. After discussions with the Finance Minister, we’ve determined that cutting costs on military modernization and equipment is not an option. The government and political stance is clear: given our current security situation, we cannot compromise on defence spending.”
Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022, other countries in Europe, in particular in the East, closer to Russia, have been reinstating military conscription.
Most countries in Europe had downsized their armed forces after the Cold War ended in 1991, significantly reducing the number of personnel and investments in equipment, weapons and ammunition.
Many are struggling to fill gaps in their military, in turn making it difficult for them to work on expanding and strengthening them.
In February, Latvia introduced mandatory conscription for men aged between 18 and 27, with those within this bracket now being required to complete a year of service.
Denmark, which already has a form of mandatory military service, announced an expansion of the programme in March.
Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands are said to be exploring ways to attract new recruits for their armed forces.
WATCH: Romania set to join Europe’s military conscription trend.
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