Lithuania explores best practices in total defence with aim to integrate them domestically

Lithuania is studying international best practices in total defence to develop a proposal for adapting these approaches domestically, LRT reports.

A new international study on total defence models, presented on Thursday, analyses the best practices from foreign countries and recent global military tactics. The research aims to create an initial proposal for implementing these insights in Lithuanian society.

Tomas Godliauskas, head of the Total Defence Association, expressed hope that by adopting these global practices, Lithuania and its society could reach a “completely different level” of preparedness for extreme situations by 2030.

“In those countries, there is a very clear understanding of what total defence means—what the citizen does, what the company does, what the community does, and what the state ultimately does. This understanding truly allows for very good coordination of not only knowledge but also actions,” Godliauskas said at a press conference.

He cited Finland as an example of good practices Lithuania could adopt. Godliauskas emphasised that effective national defence in wartime is not just the responsibility of the military but of everyone. “Total defence is everyone’s business. It is a matter of responsibility for state institutions, economic entities, non-governmental organisations, and, of course, the citizens themselves,” he said.

The study consists of three phases, explained Greg Melcher, head of the US-based New Generation Warfare Centre, which is conducting the research. The first phase involves examining the defence practices of 10 different countries. “We are currently at the end of the first phase, reviewing examples from 10 different countries and their defence practices. We will study countries that, in our opinion, have an exceptional ability and talent to integrate their citizens into a comprehensive total defence system,” Melcher said.

The second phase will focus on implementation steps. By the end of September, researchers aim to present how these methods could be adapted for Lithuanians. A simulation is planned to determine which proposed measures work, which do not, and what needs improvement.

Finally, follow-up studies will assess whether the proposed measures have proven effective and which need refinement. The initiators expect to present the final findings by the end of October.

In-Bum Chun, former head of South Korea’s Special Operations Forces, who participated in the presentation, stressed that the role of men and women in total defence must be equal. He also advocated for extending mandatory military service. “Although my country does not fully agree on this, I firmly believe that total defence must be total defence. What I mean is that both men and women must serve in one form or another—either by wearing a military uniform or by providing other public services,” Chun said.

He added that mandatory military service should last at least 12 months. “If in your case it is nine months—which is good—you must have a reliable soldier mobilisation system that allows you to mobilise your reserves very quickly,” he noted.

Chun also highlighted that building a strong total defence model starts with the will of the people, which, in his assessment, Lithuania has already achieved. “The people of Lithuania have already committed to this—you have committed a large percentage of your GDP to defence, which is very commendable, and I feel that you have the will,” he said.