In Cyprus, military service is still compulsory, featuring as a duty for every male.
Upon reaching the age of 18, every Cypriot male is required to serve 14 months in the military. This mandatory service is deeply rooted in the island’s history, where geopolitics and conflicts have shaped the culture, the traditions and the laws of the country.
Cyprus has always been a strategically significant island to gain control over the Mediterranean, being at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. However, the most impactful and recent conflict for which Cyprus is nowadays known for is undoubtedly the Turkish invasion of 1974. This occupation, which caused decades of suffering, ultimately led to the island’s division into the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
The 30-year conflict, ending only in 2004 with UN intervention, left deep and unhealed scars: the establishment of the Green Line, a buffer zone patrolled by UN peacekeepers, is a daily reminder of the island’s divided reality. The presence of Turkish and Cypriot soldiers on either side, along with British military bases, underscores the continued militarization of Cyprus. Given this backdrop, it’s not surprising that military service is still a reality in Cyprus, while in other countries of the European Union is perceived as a memory.
In this country, conscription is compulsory for every Cypriot male and every male of Cypriot descent residing in the Republic of Cyprus . The duty to serve the country for 14 months begins when one turns 18 and continues until the age of 50. Hence, the need to be prepared and to defend the country seems ingrained in the national consciousness, despite the many efforts made over the years by the UN and the EU to reach peace and unification.
For many citizens in Cyprus, both men and women, the military service is an unquestioned obligation. Having had conversations with a few young men, a common sentiment emerged: serving the country is something they must do. It’s a responsibility they’ve inherited, one they don’t question too deeply.
This is what arose from a particularly significant conversation I had with a 23-year-old man. He described military service as a passage from adolescence to adulthood. For him, and many like him, the experience is not just about learning to handle weapons and listen to orders, it’s about growing up and, in general, respecting hierarchies and decisions in society.
This pragmatic approach is understandable in a country where the legacy of war is still present in political and social discussions, as well as in mentalities. However this mindset can be unsettling and unusual for someone who has grown up in other parts of Europe, where conflicts have long been a reminiscence. In Italy, for example, compulsory military service was suspended in 2005, in Spain in 2001, in France in 1997, reflecting a broader European trend towards demilitarization. It is probably because of this that for those who have never experienced conflict, the idea of mandatory service may seem archaic, but in some countries it appears to be still a necessity. Indeed, there is the possibility that the increasing tension and conflicts in the Middle East and Middle Asia might strengthen the idea of the mandatory conscription, not only in Cyprus but also in other countries. In fact, while until a couple of years ago many still thought that we were living in an era of peace, the events occurring daily nowadays serve as a reminder that wars do not belong to the past and peace doesn’t have to be taken for granted.
In conclusion, the compulsory military service in Cyprus is more than a mere obligation—it is a reflection of the island’s history and its present challenges. For the young men who serve, it is a formative experience that shapes their understanding of themselves and their place in a world that often feels precarious. Despite the apparent stark contrast between the experiences of Cypriots and their European counterparts, in light of contemporary events, the topic of conscription arises broader questions regarding politics, defence and readiness.
