Estonia May Introduce Mandatory Conscription for Women: What Is the Reason
The head of the Estonian Defence Resources Agency (KRA), Anna Rannaveski, stated that due to demographic decline, the country will not be able to recruit men for compulsory military service in the future. For this reason, mandatory conscription of women is only a matter of time, writes ERR.
She emphasized that currently most conscripts in Estonia are young men. However, over time it is becoming increasingly clear that the number of boys born is insufficient for such a practice to be possible in the future.
According to Rannaveski, the period 15-20 years ago, when the birth rate was up to 15,000 boys per year, is now long gone. Currently, she says, only 4,000-5,000 boys are born.
"It is clear that from them we definitely will not be able to fill 41,000 young people, as the defense plans foresee. By 2040 the problem will become very clear. We will not be able to fill 4,100 positions," she said.
The official also stressed that every citizen is obliged to defend the country's independence.
"I hope that this issue (referring to mandatory conscription of women for military service - ed.) belongs more to the category of 'when' rather than 'if it will happen'," added Rannaveski.
According to member of the parliamentary defense commission and retired military Leo Kunnas, Estonia can currently manage without introducing mandatory conscription for women.
"But in the long term, if the demographic situation does not improve or remains unchanged, we will be able to apply this if necessary," said Kunnas.
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