Lithuania’s defence minister says universal conscription could be introduced before 2032

Universal conscription for compulsory military service in Lithuania could begin before 2032, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas has said. The date could be brought forward, but this will depend on the army's capabilities.

The decision to move to universal conscription from 2032 was taken on 29 October by Lithuania's State Defence Council, according to the website of President Gitanas Nausėda. "It has been decided to move to universal conscription from 2032," Nausėda told journalists after the meeting.

Currently, more than 5000 young people, selected at random, are called up into the army. After the move to universal conscription, about 7500 people are planned to be called up each year. This applies to men; women will not be affected by the call-up.

According to Nausėda, 2032 was chosen so that by then there would be time to invest in housing more conscripts and in training instructors.

Kaunas added a caveat that the decision is not final. In his words, no one allows the army to relax: "This is complex work. No one allows the army to relax. If a decision has now been made on 2032, that does not mean that in a year or two we will not be able to revisit these decisions, taking various circumstances into account" (translated).

Nausėda named the number of conscripts: about 7500 young men a year. If the date is moved up, the army will have to prepare instructors and accommodation for exactly that intake sooner.