Media reports suggest EU country may bring back military conscription
A defense ministry document suggests that the Netherlands may face a significant conflict within the next five to ten years. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
A document from the Dutch defense ministry suggests that the Netherlands may face a significant conflict within the next five to ten years. This has prompted the ministry to consider the reintroduction of compulsory military service, which was abolished 27 years ago, as reported by RTL.
On Tuesday, RTL revealed that this action plan is based on the assessment that the current global security landscape is deteriorating. The document emphasizes that “the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East and various other flash points have shown once again that security cannot be taken for granted.”
The report indicates that reinstating compulsory military service would be a complex and lengthy endeavor. However, should neighboring EU and NATO member states choose to reactivate the draft, the Netherlands would likely follow their example. Countries like Germany, France, and Poland are currently contemplating partial reintroduction of conscription.
When RTL sought comments, General Onno Eichelsheim, the Chief of Defense, remarked that compulsory military service “right now… is not on the agenda and is not necessary.” He characterized the document as “a theoretical exercise” and underscored that preparing the Dutch military for such a significant influx of recruits would require years to secure necessary equipment, establish barracks, and enhance training capabilities.
RTL estimated that if recruitment were to commence for 17-year-olds, the military would need to train and accommodate up to 200,000 soldiers annually. In contrast, the military currently has the capacity to train only 1,000 draftees per year, with plans to scale that number to 9,000 by 2029.
At present, the Netherlands maintains a professional military force of just over 42,000 personnel. Although the draft technically remains in place for men aged 17 to 45 and women aged 17 to 23, conscription obligations have been suspended since 1997, leading to thousands receiving conscription letters each year without a requirement to report for service.
The Netherlands has been a strong ally of Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia, providing military equipment such as Leopard 2 tanks and F-16 fighter jets. The Dutch government projects that military support for Ukraine will reach €3 billion this year, with an equal amount planned for 2025.
In recent comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the Netherlands, stating that the country “has taken a rather uncompromising position” towards Russia, thereby undermining the prospects for “pragmatic” bilateral relations.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Tuesday, RTL revealed that this action plan is based on the assessment that the current global security landscape is deteriorating. The document emphasizes that “the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East and various other flash points have shown once again that security cannot be taken for granted.”
The report indicates that reinstating compulsory military service would be a complex and lengthy endeavor. However, should neighboring EU and NATO member states choose to reactivate the draft, the Netherlands would likely follow their example. Countries like Germany, France, and Poland are currently contemplating partial reintroduction of conscription.
When RTL sought comments, General Onno Eichelsheim, the Chief of Defense, remarked that compulsory military service “right now… is not on the agenda and is not necessary.” He characterized the document as “a theoretical exercise” and underscored that preparing the Dutch military for such a significant influx of recruits would require years to secure necessary equipment, establish barracks, and enhance training capabilities.
RTL estimated that if recruitment were to commence for 17-year-olds, the military would need to train and accommodate up to 200,000 soldiers annually. In contrast, the military currently has the capacity to train only 1,000 draftees per year, with plans to scale that number to 9,000 by 2029.
At present, the Netherlands maintains a professional military force of just over 42,000 personnel. Although the draft technically remains in place for men aged 17 to 45 and women aged 17 to 23, conscription obligations have been suspended since 1997, leading to thousands receiving conscription letters each year without a requirement to report for service.
The Netherlands has been a strong ally of Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia, providing military equipment such as Leopard 2 tanks and F-16 fighter jets. The Dutch government projects that military support for Ukraine will reach €3 billion this year, with an equal amount planned for 2025.
In recent comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the Netherlands, stating that the country “has taken a rather uncompromising position” towards Russia, thereby undermining the prospects for “pragmatic” bilateral relations.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
