President Emmanuel Macron said he will announce a new military service aimed at boosting French army numbers later this week.
Details are scant, but according to French media the scheme would be voluntary, remunerated, and last 10 months.
In an interview with local media he sought to reassure French people that the plan did not mean young people would be sent to fight in Ukraine.
We really need to, right now, dispel any misconception that we're going to send our young people to Ukraine, he said. That's not at all what this is about.
However, Macron stated the new framework was meant to address the desire for service among the youth - and to face the hybrid confrontation waged by Russia.
If we French want to protect ourselves... we must show that we are not weak in the face of one power that threatens us the most, Macron said.
It is very important that as many of our fellow citizens as possible understand what our armed forces are and how they work, he added.
No official details on the new military service have yet been shared, though it is expected Macron will elaborate on the proposal during a visit to an army base on Thursday.
French media reports that the revamped voluntary military service could last 10 months, with volunteers paid between €900 (£790) and €1000 (£880) per month, according to La Tribune Dimanche.
Conscription in France was scrapped in 1996. The current iteration of national service, the Service national universel (SNU), consists of two weeks of training followed by community work but has received limited uptake since its introduction in 2019.
Raphaël Glucksmann of the centre-left Place Publique party expressed support for the proposal but advocated for a universal and compulsory service that isn't strictly military-focused to build social cohesion.
Conversely, Sébastien Chenu of the National Rally called for mandatory three-month military service for both genders, with potential for extension.
Last week, France's army chief-of-staff warned of the risks posed by insufficient willingness to engage in conflict, referencing potential future confrontations with Russia.
Macron characterized the current geopolitical climate as a turning point in history, urging unity and readiness among French citizens to defend their country amid shifting global alliances.
Many European nations are reevaluating their military commitments, with several, including Germany, Latvia, and Sweden, reinstating various forms of military service amidst growing concerns over regional security.
