Macron unveils new French voluntary military service

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the new voluntary service scheme on Thursday (Christophe Ena/AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a new national military service plan on Thursday as France seeks to bolster its armed forces to address growing concerns over Russia’s threat to European nations beyond the war in Ukraine.

Mr Macron announced that volunteers aged 18 and 19 will start serving next year in a new 10-month military service programme.