Croatia reintroduces mandatory military service for young people

In the first days of the year 2026, approximately 1,200 young people from Croatia began to receive recruitment letters to perform two months of military service, marking the reintroduction of this after it was abolished in 2008. This change comes against the backdrop of increasing perceptions of risks related to the conflict in Ukraine, considering that Croatia is located near this tension zone.

The Croatian government, faced with a reduced number of active military personnel, decided to reintroduce military service for young men, a measure supported by a majority of the population. The Minister of Defense, Ivan Anusic, emphasized that this initiative will help young people prepare for major threats. The necessary legislation was quickly adopted in parliament, without major protests, and officials estimate that interest in the program will exceed the number of available places.