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Local France
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Local France
What's in store if your child is doing France's Journée de Défense et de Citoyenneté this year
The Journée de Défense et de Citoyenneté (JDC) is a requirement for all young French citizens, even if they live outside France, and is a prerequisite for sitting the baccalauréat, applying for certain public jobs, or obtaining a driving licence. The day itself, formerly known as the Journée d'Appel de Préparation à la Défense (Defense Preparation Day, or JAPD), was established in 1997 by President Jacques Chirac and replaced compulsory military service. Non-French citizens who are resident of France as well as those with dual nationality (who can opt out depending on their nationality) are not yet obliged to take part in these days, but they are mandatory from September for all French nationals – and some foreign residents – aged 16 to 25 as part of government efforts to link youth engagement to military preparedness. Advertisement Invitations to attend a JDC are sent out once a compulsory citizen registration is completed. In 2024, 20,000 JDCs were organised with around 40 young people taking part in each session. From September 2025, they will undergo several key changes, and take on a greater military direction – and will feature greater emphasis on military and reserve recruitment, the Ministry for the Armed Forces confirmed. By 2026, the goal is to organise 8,500 new-generation JDCs with 100 young people per session, accompanied by 10 supervisors from defense units and sites. French government information website Service Publique included a breakdown of a typical JDC day that will be rolled out from September. They will last seven hours, starting at 8.30am and ending at 3.30pm, and – after a flag-raising ceremony and the singing of La Marseillaise, followed by the reading of the Charte des droits et devoirs du citoyen français (charter of rights and responsibilities of French citizens) will feature role-play and aptitude workshops, a laser-target shooting simulation, and a careers forum with military officials and officers from the National Gendarmerie, while meals will be served in the form of combat rations. The armed services currently aim to increase the number of reservists from 47,000 to 80,000 by 2030.
19-06-2025
- Politics
Europeans step up Arctic diplomacy amid U.S. and global pressure
In recent days, a flurry of high-profile visits has marked this shift, including a new letter of intent signed between Iceland and France. The agreement, finalized last week, focuses on security challenges in the Arctic and deepening both countries' NATO commitments. Excellent strategic dialogue between [Iceland] and [France] this week in Reykjavík on security in the North Atlantic and the Arctic, NATO, support for Ukraine, and strengthening our bilateral cooperation, among other topics, marked by the signing of a Letter of Intent, Alexandre Escorcia, director for European, North American, and multilateral affairs at the French Ministry for the Armed Forces, said on X on Friday. The French delegation also toured Iceland's Keflavík Air Base. The talks also focused on Iceland's growing emphasis on security and defense, including the development of the country's first national defense and security policy, Iceland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs said in a statement. No longer business-as-usual in the North Arctic nations have grown increasingly concerned about the shifting balance of power in the region, especially since the war in Ukraine and Russia's continued militarization of the Arctic. Meanwhile, China's expanding presence, fueled by its 'Polar Silk Road' ambitions, is intensifying tensions, with Western sanctions on Russia pushing Beijing and Moscow closer together. On top of that, former President Donald Trump's persistent rhetoric on claiming Greenland have put Arctic nations, and the West more broadly, that on notice that's no longer business as usual in the North. The signing of the Letter of Intent was part of a broader surge in European diplomatic activity in the Arctic in recent days. On June 15, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland, where he met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen to reaffirm Europe's solidarity in the face of U.S. ambitions for the territory. The situation in Greenland is clearly a wakeup call for all Europeans, Macron said in a report by Reuters news wire service. Let me tell you very directly that you're not alone. Macron's visit came amid mounting tensions over U.S. plans for the Arctic. Last week, Denmark ave the green light for U.S. military bases on its soil, deepening Arctic security ties with Washington. A move that came despite ongoing tensions over former President Donald Trump's continued wish to take control of Greenland. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told lawmakers at the time that Denmark could scrap the deal if the U.S. ever attempts to annex any part of Greenland. (new window) Meanwhile, also last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seemed to confirm that the Pentagon has contingency plans to seize Greenland by force if needed. Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee pressed Hegseth for answers on military plans for Greenland. When Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) asked directly if the Pentagon had plans to take Greenland by force, Hegseth deflected, saying, 'Our job at the Defense Department is to have plans for any contingency.' (new window) Norwegian monarch travels to Svalbard And a day after Macron's visit to Greenland, Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja visited Svalbard (new window) to reinforce Norwegian sovereignty over the strategically crucial islands. We see an increased interest in the Arctic and Svalbard, he said in an AP report on Monday. This creates challenges as well as possibilities. Norway's control over Svalbard is backed by the 1920 Svalbard Treaty and international law, giving it full authority over the archipelago, its waters, and airspace. But as part of the Treaty, Norway must allow other signatory countries equal access to things like fishing, hunting, and commercial activities, though Norway still regulates how it's done. Russia, a signatory to the treaty, has small settlements on Svalbard including Barentsburg and Pyramiden. China, also a signatory, has a significant research interest in Svalbard and operates the Yellow River Research Station in the town of Ny-Ålesund. Comments, tips or story ideas? Contact Eilís at Related stories from around the North: Canada:Five things to know about Canada's plan to meet the NATO defence spending target (new window) , CBC News Denmark: Denmark approves US military bases on Danish soil as Trump eyes Greenland (new window) , The Associated Press Finland: US, Norwegian forces in Lapland for rapid reinforcement exercise (new window) , The Independent Barents Observer Iceland: Iceland's FM announces defence review, calls revamped security policy 'urgent' (new window) , Eye on the Arctic Norway: Macron visits Greenland show European support for Arctic island coveted by Trump (new window) , Reuters Russia: Drone attack on Russian warplanes, including in Arctic, serious blow to strategic arsenal (new window) , The Associated Press Sweden: Nordic-Baltic region joins forces around Sweden's CV90 (new window) , The Independent Barents Observer United States: White House releases U.S. Arctic strategy implementation plan (new window) , Eye on the Arctic Eilís Quinn, Eye on the Arctic (new window) @arctic_eq (new window)
