Croatia reintroduces compulsory military service after nearly two decades

After almost 20 years without compulsory military service, Croatia has begun reintroducing conscription for young men, reflecting a broader reassessment of security policy across the Balkans and Central Europe.

According to Deutsche Welle, in early January 2026, around 1,200 Croatian male school leavers received call-up papers for two months of mandatory military service, becoming the first generation to be drafted since conscription was abolished in 2008, shortly before the country joined NATO.

At the time, Croatia’s goal was to professionalize its armed forces and move away from mass conscription. Nearly two decades later, shifting geopolitical realities have prompted a reversal.

War is closer to home than before

While Croatia is not directly involved in the war in Ukraine, the conflict no longer feels distant. With Hungary the only country separating Croatia from Ukraine, regional security concerns have intensified.

A 2022 incident reinforced this sense of vulnerability when an unidentified drone—believed to be linked to the war in Ukraine—crashed in Zagreb. Although it caused limited damage, it had a profound psychological impact on policymakers.

Croatia’s military leadership has also expressed concern about manpower. The country currently relies on fewer than 15,000 active-duty soldiers, a number seen as insufficient for long-term national defense.

Broad political and public support

The proposal to reinstate conscription was introduced ahead of Croatia’s 2024 parliamentary elections. Defense Minister Ivan Anušić argued that military service would help young men develop discipline while preparing society for “any major threat.”

Public reaction has been largely supportive. Opinion polls showed that around 70% of Croatians backed the move, and the governing HDZ party was re-elected. The necessary legislation passed parliament in October 2025 with a strong majority, facing only limited opposition.

Notably, the initial rollout has triggered little public protest, and experts suggest demand may even exceed the number of available training slots.

Read also: Mysterious military helicopter crash: Hungarian ministry silent, Croatia speaks out

A wider trend in the former Yugoslavia

Croatia’s decision fits into a broader regional debate. Several countries that emerged from the breakup of Yugoslavia are reconsidering conscription, echoing practices from the socialist era, when young men typically served one year in the military.

During the final years of Yugoslavia, conscripts made up two-thirds of the ground forces, supported by a vast pool of trained reservists. After the wars of the 1990s, however, newly independent states gradually dismantled the draft.

Slovenia ended conscription in 2003, while Serbia followed in 2010. For years, EU and NATO integration reduced the perceived need for large citizen armies. That assumption is now being challenged.

Slovenia and Serbia are watching closely

In Slovenia, a previous right-wing government proposed reintroducing military service as early as 2020, citing a lack of preparedness and a shrinking armed force of around 7,000 personnel. While the current center-left government has not acted on the proposal, upcoming elections could bring the issue back to the forefront.

Serbia, meanwhile, has repeatedly signaled its intention to revive conscription. Although several deadlines have passed without implementation, Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić has indicated that draft legislation could be submitted to parliament in 2026.

Preparedness, not aggression

Despite rising defense spending and renewed focus on manpower, analysts caution against interpreting these developments as signs of impending conflict.

Security experts emphasize that the renewed interest in conscription is primarily defensive, aimed at preparedness and deterrence rather than offensive planning. Scenarios involving armed conflict between Balkan states are widely considered unlikely.

Still, the return of compulsory military service marks a symbolic shift. In an increasingly unpredictable international environment, governments across the region appear to be revisiting traditional tools of national defense once thought obsolete.

For some, conscription represents an uncomfortable reminder of the past. For others, it is a pragmatic response to a world that feels less stable than it did a decade ago.

Read also: New motorway links Hungary to Croatia connecting the Danube with the Adriatic