Reservists May Be Allowed Up to Age 70, Says French Defense Minister

The French army plans to raise the age limit for reservists up to 70, and in some cases, even up to 72. This announcement was made by French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu. According to reports from Interfax, he stated, "We will raise the age limit. Reservists can be up to 70 years old, and in the case of certain specialists, up to 72 years old," during a broadcast on RTL radio.

Lecornu noted that many "highly qualified specialists" who wanted to continue their service have been unable to do so due to age restrictions. French media indicates that until now, the maximum age for reservists in France has been 65.

Earlier today, Lecornu presented the military planning bill for 2024-2030, which includes an annual increase in defense spending of 3-4 billion euros. According to the bill, by 2030, France's defense budget is expected to reach 69 billion euros, compared to an estimated 43.9 billion euros this year.