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Europe

Sweden wants to reintroduce military conscription

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE - This is a Saturday Aug. 1, 2015 file photo of Swedish Army personnel as they take part in the annual gay Pride Parade in Stockholm. Sweden's left-leaning government is reintroducing a military draft for both men and women because of what Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist calls a deteriorating security environment in Europe and around Sweden. T (Vilhelm Stokstad/TT , File via AP) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE - In this Sep. 14, 2016 file photo, Swedish APCs are seen in Visby harbour on the island of Gotland, Sweden. Sweden's left-leaning government on Thursday, March 2, 2017 reintroduced a military draft for both men and women because of what Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist calls a deteriorating security environment in Europe and around Sweden. The country did away with the draft seven years ago, and at that point only men were eligible. (Soren Andersson/TT News Agency via AP, file) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE - This is a Monday, Nov. 2, 2015 file photo of Sweden's Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist as he speaks during a press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari in Baghdad, Iraq. Sweden's left-leaning government is reintroducing a military draft for both men and women because of what Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist calls a deteriorating security environment in Europe and around Sweden.. (AP Photo/ Khalid al-Mousily, Pool) (The Associated Press)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Sweden's left-leaning defense minister says the country wants to reintroduce military conscription for both men and women, seven years after the policy was scrapped, citing regional tensions.

Peter Hultqvist told Swedish broadcaster SVT Sweden wants to have conscripts, volunteers and professionals.

He said Thursday approximately 4,000 18-year-olds of both sexes would be called up each year. The first conscripts would start Jan. 1, 2018.

In 2010, Sweden abolished compulsory military service for men. The average term of service was around 11 months.

A decision is to be made later Thursday.