Lithuania moves toward universal conscription but stresses need for quality preparation

Lithuania is progressing toward introducing universal military conscription, though thorough preparation remains essential before full implementation, Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said Wednesday, as reported by LRT.

“We need infrastructure, instructors, sufficient military capacity, and adequate weaponry to equip and properly train those we call up,” Kaunas told a government meeting. He noted that while the number of conscripts is rising annually, the armed forces must maintain training quality while adapting to emerging threats.

The minister emphasised that the transition involves collaboration between military commissariats, riflemen’s units, and the Lithuanian Armed Forces to prepare society for potential wartime defence. “We are moving toward universal conscription at a steady pace, ensuring quality and responding to new visible threats,” he added.

Prime Minister Ingrida Ruginienė described universal conscription as a future consideration, stressing that current priorities lie in strengthening foundational defence measures amid evolving geopolitical risks. “We will certainly move toward it, but today, given the changing geopolitical situation and growing threats, the priority is to address basic needs first, then advance step by step,” she said.

Lithuania has not yet implemented universal conscription. Conscripts currently serve nine months, though recent reforms allow for three-, six-, or nine-month service terms. The country conscripts 18–22-year-olds post-education, with plans to increase annual intake. Some politicians argue this gradual expansion brings Lithuania closer to universal conscription.

Earlier reports indicated Lithuania aims to develop an infantry division by 2030 and prepare for a German brigade deployment within three years. President Gitanas Nausėda has stated that universal conscription is a matter of timing as the national division takes shape.

Both Ruginienė and Kaunas welcomed NATO’s review of Baltic defence plans as a routine adaptation to new threats and technologies. Kaunas noted that regional security remains a top Alliance priority, while Ruginienė called the updates a “progressive step” to avoid relying on outdated strategies.

NATO currently oversees Baltic operations and northern Poland from a multinational headquarters in Szczecin, Poland. Proposed changes would enable faster deployment of German and Dutch troops to Latvia and Estonia in a potential conflict with Russia.