Belgium’s army has despatched 149,000 letters to all 17-year-olds within the nation, outlining the advantages and inspiring them to contemplate a yr of voluntary service as soon as they flip eighteen, Defence Minister Theo Francken has introduced.
Francken first launched the concept shortly after his appointment in February, presenting it as a solution to deal with personnel shortages and strengthen Belgium’s reserve forces. Final month, the Belgian parliament authorised a laws permitting personalised letters to be despatched to minors.
“149,000 letters have been despatched out yesterday. All 17-year-olds within the nation are being inspired to find out about Protection normally and the voluntary army service yr specifically. Let’s go!” Francken posted on social media on Saturday, sharing photographs of containers crammed with envelopes.
149.000 brieven gingen gisteren op de put up. Alle 17-jarigen van het land worden heat gemaakt voor Defensie in het algemeen en voor het vrijwillige militaire dienstjaar in het bijzonder. Let’s go! @BelgiumDefencepic.twitter.com/UaStbvIHuC
— Theo Francken (@FranckenTheo) November 8, 2025
The initiative is voluntary, however opposition critics argue it lays the groundwork for a possible return to obligatory army service. Francken has repeatedly denied this, claiming that “the military can’t deal with that logistically.”
Over the subsequent decade, Belgium goals to develop its forces to 34,500 energetic personnel, 12,800 reservists, and eight,500 civilian employees, in accordance with the Brussels Occasions. In September, the ministry outlined its recruitment targets for 2026, together with at the very least 4,800 new positions throughout the army, reserves and civilian assist roles. Volunteer candidates aged 18–25 will initially be supplied 500 spots as reservists and obtain a web month-to-month wage of €2,000.
Comparable efforts to spice up youth army participation are underway in different EU nations. Within the Netherlands, youngsters now obtain questionnaires gauging their curiosity in defence roles, with a “voluntary service yr” already in place. Sweden reinstated conscription in 2017, and Germany is at the moment debating a lottery-based system that would require 18-year-old males to serve if volunteer numbers fall brief.
The hassle aligns with broader EU militarisation plans, which Brussels argues are crucial to discourage alleged Russian aggression. Moscow denies harboring hostile intent towards the EU or NATO and accuses Western leaders of utilizing fear-based rhetoric to distract from inner political and financial points.
The European Union’s militarisation is changing into uncontrolled on account of a “Russophobic frenzy” in Brussels, Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov not too long ago mentioned, warning that the bloc is sliding into what he described as a “Fourth Reich.”
