Romania’s minister of defence Angel Tilvar confirmed on February 5 that the mandatory military service option is out of the question – however, a scheme to boost the military reserve force through voluntary and paid three-month military service is envisaged.
Tilvar also explained that the Romanian Army has decreased from 320,000 to approximately 80,000 people and the average age of the reserve force increased significantly.
The voluntary, paid military service scheme will be open for people aged 18-35.
With almost 230,000 people reaching military age annually, if Romania did introduce compulsory service eventually, it could raise one of the biggest armies in East Central Europe, points out The European Conservative.
The debate about compulsory military service was prompted by the head of the Romanian Army, Gheorghita Vlad, who gave an interview for Europa Libera about the need to better prepare the population for the expansion of Ukraine’s war into Romania.
Disturbingly, allied forces simulate a scenario where Russia attacks Eastern Flanc during Steadfast 2024. Besides, Admiral Rob Bauer, NATO’s military committee chief, became the first NATO official to admit that the Western states were preparing for an all-out war with Russia, points out Valahia News.
The fear of the war leaking out of Ukraine and into the rest of Europe has been present since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly for neighboring countries in Easter Europe such as Romania, but the when and how and if remain as uncertain now as they did at beginning – fortunately in certain senses, at least for the time being.
