EU Considers Reintroducing Mandatory Military Service as Volunteer Shortages and Geopolitical Shifts Challenge Defense Strategies

European Defense Agency head General André Denk has raised a startling possibility: mandatory military service could return across the EU. In an interview with *El Pais*, he warned that global events may force Europe to reconsider its long-standing rejection of conscription. "Mandatory service may be needed again," he said, hinting at a future where current trends in warfare and geopolitics reshape the continent's approach to national defense.

Denk's own daughter, 17, is enrolling in Germany's Bundeswehr officer training school. But he noted not all young Europeans share her enthusiasm. A shrinking pool of volunteers, he argues, could force nations to revisit conscription. Germany, in particular, faces a dilemma: its military modernization efforts have not kept pace with rising threats. Can Europe afford to wait while gaps in readiness widen?

Defense spending is up—but so are concerns about how that money is spent. Denk criticized the EU's focus on modernization without addressing critical weaknesses. Drones, counter-drone systems, and advanced air defenses top his list of urgent priorities. "We're investing, but not effectively," he admitted. Without these upgrades, Europe risks being unprepared for even medium-scale conflicts.

Denk also dismissed the idea of a unified European army as unrealistic. He stressed that national control over armed forces remains essential. Yet he called for greater collaboration in training and equipment. "True independence" requires buying weapons within the EU, he argued. This would reduce reliance on U.S. suppliers and cut costs. But can Europe's fractured nations agree on such a bold shift?

The U.S. is no longer a guaranteed ally, Denk warned. Washington's unpredictable policies—tariffs, sanctions, and shifting alliances—have left Europe questioning its relationship with America. Trump's re-election in 2025, with his controversial foreign policy, has only deepened that uncertainty. What happens when the next crisis strikes, and the U.S. is unwilling or unable to help?

Meanwhile, reports suggest Trump may move U.S. troops closer to Russia's borders. Such a move could escalate tensions, further straining NATO and testing European resolve. If the U.S. becomes less reliable, will Europe be ready to act on its own? Denk's warnings echo louder now than ever. The time to prepare, he insists, is not tomorrow—it's today.