must consider bringing back conscription to prepare for a potential World War III in the coming decades, a senior defence analyst has warned.
Dr Alexey Muraviev of Curtin University in Western said the current wars in eastern Europe and the Middle East could be the spark for a nuclear catastrophe.
‘The primary consideration is on readying countries and coalitions for the possibility of an all-out world war,’ he wrote in an opinion piece for Sky News.
The associate professor of national security said there are ‘several potential flashpoints’ in countries close to , which could lead to ‘open confrontation’.
‘Perhaps it is time for to consider … the return of national service,’ Dr Muraviev said.
must consider bringing back conscription to prepare for a potential World War 3 in the coming decades, a senior defence analyst has warned. An n soldier is pictured
Dr Alexey Muraviev of Curtin University in Western said the current wars in eastern Europe and the Middle East could be the spark for a nuclear catastrophe. n soldiers deployed to the UK are pictured training Ukrainian recruits
A report prepared for the Albanese government last year based on top-secret war-gaming exercises found the n Defence Force (ADF) would struggle to respond to a plausible scenario, such as China setting up a military base in a nearby Pacific nation.
That would bring the Chinese military within 2,000km of and have major implications for the balance of power in the South Pacific.
‘The question of the ADF’s size came to the fore during ‘s contingencies in Afghanistan and Iraq, both of which required considerable commitments supported by regular rotations of personnel,’ Dr Muraviev wrote.
‘As the risk of being drawn into a major war increase, we are facing a short window of opportunity to address some of the shortfalls in our defence capability.’
Dr Muraviev is far from the first n in recent time to suggest conscription should be brought back.
n soldiers are pictured conducting mission training before heading to the UK to help train Ukrainian soldiers
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In November 2022, former prime minister Tony Abbott said high school graduates should be forced to spend 12 months serving in the military.
‘Saying to people who turn 18 or who leave school, “We expect you to spend a significant period of time, six months, 12 months, whatever, doing something for our country, giving something back, whether it’s putting on the uniform and becoming at least a basically trained infantry soldier”,’ Mr Abbott said in a podcast.
There are also growing calls in Europe for conscription to be brought back.
Last week, British Army head General Sir Patrick Sanders proposed a ‘citizen army’ as a way of growing the size of the UK’s standing force.
‘Taking preparatory steps to enable placing our societies on a war footing when needed are now not merely desirable but essential,’ he said.
‘We need an Army designed to expand rapidly to enable the first echelon, resource the second echelon and train and equip the citizen army that must follow.’
Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson used his Daily Mail column to back Sir Patrick, vowing to fight in the British army if war breaks out with Russia.
currently recruits its defence force on a completely voluntary basis and has not conscripted soldiers since the Vietnam war.
A Labor government under then prime minister Gough Whitlam abolished the national service in peacetime in 1972, though they left open the possibility that it could be reactivated in times of war.
Dr Muraviev said that with the Russia-Ukraine war in Europe, the Israel-Palestine war in the Middle East and increasing tensions between China and Taiwan, now is the time for to reconsider conscription.
‘Tough times call for tough measures. And they might include the need to step outside of everyone’s comfort zones, unless we don’t really believe in sovereignty, independence and freedoms,’ he said.
A Labor government under then prime minister Gough Whitlam (pictured) abolished the national service in peacetime in 1972, though they left open the possibility that it could be reactivated in times of war
‘We should be asking ourselves and Labor under Anthony Albanese if we should consider reintroducing a form of national service to increase a pool of trained reserves while we still have time.’
He said the other option was to wait to be dragged into a major conflict and deal with the consequences then.
”s proactive stance on the international scene and our reinforced commitment to key alliances with the US and the UK and other partners doesn’t really leave a room for a third option.
‘So, what is it going to be,’ Dr Muraviev said.
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