Young men in Croatia receive call-up papers as conscription returns

DW
DW
14h ago
Around 1,200 male school leavers in Croatia received call-up letters in early 2026 for two months of military service as the country reinstated conscription for the first time since 2008.
Young men in Croatia receive call-up papers as conscription returns
A What happened
In the first days of 2026, around 1,200 male school leavers in Croatia received letters calling them up for two months of military service. They are the first generation to face conscription since Croatia scrapped it in 2008. Croatia’s parliament passed the required legislation last October by 84 votes to 11, and polls had shown seven out of ten Croatians supported the move.
★

Key insights

  • 1

    Government framed conscription as preparation for threats: Defense Minister Ivan Anusic said reinstating national service would help young men change “bad habits” and prepare them for “any major threat.”

  • 2

    Analyst assessed low likelihood of regional conflict: Toby Vogel said Serbia was not about to attack Croatia and Croatia was not about to invade Serbia, and said the military angle was preparedness rather than concrete or offensive planning.

Takeaways

Croatia has implemented a two-month conscription program for male school leavers in early 2026, with parliamentary approval, limited public protest, and stated aims of increasing preparedness and personnel capacity.

Topics

World & Politics Elections Policy & Regulation International Affairs Governance Security & Defense

Read the full article on DW

Stay ahead with OwlBrief

Daily briefs that distill the world’s important events — clear, verified, and designed for understanding.

Create Free Account Sign In

Newsletter

Get OwlBrief in your inbox

A fast, high-signal digest of the day’s most important events — plus the context that makes them make sense.

Quick to read. Useful all day.