France unveils voluntary military service amid 'accelerating threats'

President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday announced the creation of a new voluntary youth military service to begin by mid-2026, which would help France respond to "accelerating threats" on the global stage. The move is part of a broader shift across Europe, where nations who have long enjoyed the decades-long tranquillity of U.S. security guarantees are fretting about President Donald Trump's shifting priorities and Russia's aggressive posture. "France cannot remain idle," Macron said during a spee