The Belgian Deputy Defense Minister, Theo Francken of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), has announced a new initiative that will see all citizens reaching their 18th birthday receive an official letter inviting them to participate in one year of voluntary military service.

In an interview with Sudinfo, Francken expressed the intention to launch the program 'as soon as possible.'

The voluntary military service is set to include all individuals, regardless of gender.

However, Francken emphasized that this initiative is entirely voluntary and not compulsory.

He clarified that the Belgian government has ruled out the reintroduction of mandatory military service due to significant operational challenges.

Francken stated, 'We are not ready logistically: we have neither the personnel to supervise it nor the adequate infrastructure.

We lack barracks, beds… in short, we could not implement such a program today.' This highlights the current logistical limitations faced by the Belgian military, which transformed its armed forces into an all-professional model in 1994.

Since the discontinuation of compulsory military service, the topic has been revisited multiple times.

Discussions regarding the reimposition of mandatory military service have consistently been hindered by logistical obstacles and budgetary constraints.

The current size of the Belgian Armed Forces is approximately 25,000 personnel, a figure that is often challenged by recruitment issues that prevent achieving desired intake levels.

The new voluntary service plan is positioned within a broader context of encouraging youth engagement with military service, contrasting with the notion of forced conscription.

This aligns with recent military engagement strategies in Europe, particularly reflective of policies adopted by countries such as Sweden and Lithuania, which emphasize increased military participation in response to evolving security threats on the continent.