The Lithuanian State Defence Council, which includes the heads of state and the national defence system, decided on Thursday to introduce universal conscription in the armed forces from 2032.
Source: “ European Pravda ” with reference to LRT
Details: According to President Gitanas Nauseda, the government chose 2032 to implement the changes to allow time to invest in properly placing more conscripts and training instructors.
“We have decided that general conscription will be introduced from 2032,” Nauseda said after the council meeting.
According to him, girls will be able to continue to serve in the military on a voluntary basis.
Currently, over 5,000 young men are drafted into the armed forces each year.
According to Nauseda, if universal conscription is introduced, given the demographic situation and the fact that some young people are not fit for service due to health reasons, about 7.5 thousand young people will be conscripted each year.
He added that it is also necessary to balance the military service of conscripts and the updating of the skills of reservists so that both processes take place at a high level.
“It seems to me that this (the introduction of conscription from 2032. – Ed.) is optimal,” the head of state noted.
He also noted that the National Defenсe Council has agreed to expand the range of service options, for example, allowing conscripts to undergo training as drone operators, assist the State Border Guard Service, or work as firefighters.
Partial conscription was reinstated in Lithuania in 2015 due to increased threats following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Lithuanian Minister of National Defenсe Robertas Kaunas today admitted the possibility of his country moving to universal military conscription for young men from 2030.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda previously expressed support for the idea of introducing a general military command.
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