Croatia Draft: Recruitment Fears Rise as Military Returns

Croatia is reinstating mandatory military service for the first time in 17 years, with 4,000 recruits, including 18-year-old Leon Dejanovic, preparing for training. The move is part of a broader strategy to address security concerns within the European Union member nation.

Croatia Resumes Mandatory Military Service

Dejanovic received a draft notice in January and subsequently passed medical and psychological evaluations. He is scheduled to begin his service in May. “In January, the postman came to my home, which honestly surprised and scared me a little,” Dejanovic said. “I received a draft notice for military service…and I passed. This means I have to go for military service in May, that is what they told me.”

Despite initial public division, over half of the recruits in this first wave are volunteers, with women comprising 10 percent of the group. The reinstatement of mandatory service aligns Croatia with a growing number of NATO countries prioritizing national defense.

Dejanovic, an internet influencer, expressed a desire to disconnect from his digital life during his service. “I am looking forward to military service primarily to get away from this world, and honestly, I cannot wait to be without my cell phone for a while, because I am on my cell phone all day for my job,” he stated. “And I will have the chance to be with other people all the time.”

However, not all young men are enthusiastic about the return of mandatory service. Josip Franjo Cvitesic, a friend of Dejanovic, voiced concerns about potential disruption to his employment. “I have not received a call-up for the army yet, but honestly, I am against it,” Cvitesic said. “I’m concerned the service could disrupt my well-paying factory job.”

Basic training will include a monthly allowance of approximately $1,200, credit towards work records, and preferential access to public-sector employment opportunities. Croatia now joins Greece, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as NATO countries with mandatory military service requirements.