Croatia will reintroduce two-month military service from January 1. File | Photo credit: AP
Croatia will reintroduce two-month mandatory military service from January 1 next year, Defense Minister Ivan Anusic announced late Thursday (August 15, 2024).
The move comes amid heightened tensions in Europe following Russian aggression against Ukraine and an apparent arms race and military build-up in the Balkans, which suffered a bloody war in the 1990s.
Watch: Which countries have military service?
The decision marks a return to conscription, which was suspended in 2008 when the country moved to a volunteer-based system.
“We have 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 Croatian broadcaster RTL on Thursday (August 16). 2024).
“The modernization and equipping of the armed forces is proceeding as planned and in accordance with the agreement with our allies and the NATO leadership,” the minister said, adding that no money will be saved in this area.
Other countries in Europe are considering similar measures or have reintroduced mandatory military service in response to increased regional tensions.
Last year, Latvia reintroduced military conscription in response to the threat posed by Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Serbia, Croatia’s biggest rival in the Balkans, is also considering reactivating conscription.
