by InTrieste
Italy’s defense minister, Guido Crosetto, has proposed the creation of a new voluntary military service aimed at forming a reserve corps of up to 10,000 people, reviving a long-dormant debate over the country’s defense posture amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Speaking in Paris on Thursday after a meeting with his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin, Mr. Crosetto said he intends to bring a draft bill before the cabinet and later Parliament. The proposal outlines a “state auxiliary military reserve” that could be mobilized in the event of war, natural disasters or other national emergencies.
The Defense Ministry on Friday emphasized that the plan would not reinstate Italy’s mandatory conscription system — known as leva — which was abolished in 2005. Instead, the envisioned reserve would consist of volunteers and remain inactive except in what officials described as “extremely serious cases.” According to reporting in Corriere della Sera, reservists would not be deployed to front-line combat.
The corps would draw on a mix of retired military members, former security personnel and civilian specialists whose skills could support logistics operations. Retired doctors, engineers and information technology experts are among the categories the ministry considers essential in modern crisis response.
Mr. Crosetto’s remarks place Italy among several European nations reassessing the structure of their armed forces as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to reshape the continent’s security priorities. The conversation, which surfaces periodically in Italy, appears this time to be taking on a more concrete form, following steps recently taken by France and Germany.
France, where conscription ended more than two decades ago, has announced a new voluntary national military service program set to begin next summer. Under the plan, 18- and 19-year-olds may volunteer for a paid 10-month training period, part of what Paris has framed as a response to growing concerns over Russia.
Germany, meanwhile, has unveiled a service model requiring all 18-year-old men to complete a questionnaire assessing their suitability for military duty. Beginning in 2027, those deemed fit may also be asked to undergo medical evaluations, a move Berlin says is necessary to ensure adequate defense readiness.
Italy has not signaled an interest in returning to mandatory service. But Mr. Crosetto’s proposal, if enacted, would mark the country’s most significant shift in defense policy in years, reflecting broader European anxieties and a desire to strengthen national resilience without reintroducing conscription.
