61% of French Say They Would Join Civil Defense if Country Is Attacked... Only 17% Willing to Enlist

61% Willing to Join Civil Defense, Only 17% for Military Enlistment
Higher Enlistment Willingness Among Youth, Men, and Right-Wing Supporters
59% Support Increasing the Defense Budget

Six out of ten French people said they would participate in civil defense in the event of an attack on their country. However, fewer than one in five expressed willingness to enlist in the military.

Emmanuel Macron, President of France. Photo by AFP Yonhap News Agency

According to Yonhap News on April 27, a recent online survey conducted by the French polling agency Elabe on 1,000 adults between April 22 and 23 (local time) found that 61% of respondents said they would participate in civil defense activities if France were directly attacked. Among them, 16% said they would "definitely participate."

In contrast, only 17% expressed willingness to serve in the military. The intention to enlist was higher among younger generations, with 29% of those aged 18 to 24 and 24% of those aged 25 to 34 expressing willingness—both above the overall average. There was also a notable gender gap: 26% of men indicated willingness to enlist, compared to just 9% of women.

Political orientation also showed clear differences. Supporters of the right-wing Republican party (LR) demonstrated the highest willingness to serve in the military (31%) and to participate in civil defense activities (84%). In contrast, supporters of left-wing parties were less proactive, with only 14% expressing willingness to serve in the military.

Sixty percent of respondents believed that France could defend itself if its territory were attacked. Among the ruling coalition and LR supporters, 75% trusted the capabilities of the French military, while less than half (49%) of far-right National Rally (RN) supporters believed the country could defend itself.

Regarding the defense budget, 59% of respondents said that the budget should be continuously increased to prepare for rising external threats. On the other hand, 40% believed it should be frozen or slightly reduced. Last July, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to increase the defense budget to 64 billion euros (about 103 trillion won) by 2027, emphasizing, "As Europeans, we must ensure our own security." This figure is double the 32 billion euros when he first took office in 2017.

This survey was released at a time when President Macron has been repeatedly emphasizing the need for European security self-reliance. On April 25 (local time), during a forum in Athens, Greece, President Macron stated, "Tensions between the United States and Europe will persist even after the Trump administration," and stressed, "Europe must take the initiative to protect its own interests."

Meanwhile, other surveys have shown shifting security awareness in other European countries. Last month, a survey conducted by Politico Europe in six countries—Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland—found that 76% of respondents supported sending their own troops to defend a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) ally if attacked. Additionally, 86% agreed that Europe should build its own defense capabilities, and 69% supported the creation of a joint European military force.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.