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Austria extends military service due to Ukraine war
🇫🇮 Finland /Conflict & Security

Austria extends military service due to Ukraine war

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • Austria plans to extend mandatory military service from six to nine months due to the war in Ukraine.
  • The government aims to increase the attractiveness of military service by nearly doubling monthly pay to 1,000 euros.
  • The reforms, driven by a changed security situation in Europe, are set to take effect next year.

Austria is set to extend its mandatory military service period from six to nine months, a decision directly influenced by the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Austrian government announced the reforms on Monday, aiming to bolster the nation's defense capabilities in response to a significantly altered European security landscape.

Currently, men aged 18 must choose between six months of military service or nine months of civilian service. Under the new plan, military service will be extended to nine months. A voluntary two-month extension will be added to civilian service, potentially becoming mandatory if insufficient conscripts are available for military roles. Furthermore, a new reservist model will require those who have completed military service to participate in refresher training for 10 years afterward.

The security situation has changed in recent weeks, months, and years. Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine has, at the very least, destroyed the dream of lasting peace in Europe.

— Christian StockerAustrian Chancellor explaining the rationale for military reforms.

To make military service more appealing, the monthly pay for conscripts will nearly double, increasing from 625 euros to 1,000 euros. This move comes as currently, about 55 percent of eligible men opt for military service, while 45 percent choose civilian service. Austria's constitution mandates neutrality, and the country is not a member of NATO. In recent decades, its armed forces have focused more on disaster response and border control than on defending against foreign invasion.

However, the conflict in Ukraine has prompted Austria to re-evaluate and strengthen its military. "The security situation has changed in recent weeks, months, and years. Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine has, at the very least, destroyed the dream of lasting peace in Europe," stated Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker. He also cited cyber and hybrid attacks as threats facing Austria, emphasizing the need for the country to "take greater responsibility for its own resilience and civil protection."

Austria must take greater responsibility for its own resilience and civil protection.

— Christian StockerHighlighting the increased security threats and the need for self-reliance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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