France’s Voluntary Military Service: A Cautious Step Amid Rising European Threats

In a Europe increasingly rattled by Russia's aggressive maneuvers, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a new voluntary military service program aimed at shoring up national defense without reviving full conscription. While the initiative seeks to prepare French youth for looming threats, it underscores a broader failure of European nations to consistently uphold strong, unified defenses—failures that ultimately impact American security interests. Is Europe Doing Enough to Guard Against Russian Expansion? Macron’s announcement comes as Russia continues its imperialist trajectory—having seized territories in Georgia and Ukraine—and now openly prepares for potential conflict with NATO members. France’s commitment of an additional...