Kasčiūnas faces resistance to universal conscription plan

Laurynas Kasčiūnas’ proposal to introduce compulsory universal conscription has met opposition from rival parties and ideological allies, LRT reports.

Social Democrats do not support the initiative, although it has not been formally discussed by the party. Tomas Martinaitis, a member of the Seimas National Security and Defence Committee, said he was also unsure what the Conservatives were proposing.

“If it is simply about increasing the number of people called up, I would not particularly support that. I think we should talk not about universal conscription, but about universal defence and universal preparedness,” Martinaitis told LRT.lt.

He also criticised a recent survey commissioned by the Visuotinė gynyba association, which found that almost 80% of residents supported universal conscription. Martinaitis said the opinions of young people of conscription age should be examined more closely.

Kasčiūnas argued that compulsory universal conscription would increase people’s readiness to resist in the event of war. He said military service was the best way to encourage people to defend the country, adding that sociological research showed that those who had served in the military became more willing to do so.

Martinaitis said efforts were currently focused on finding ways for civilians to contribute to national defence and making voluntary military service more accessible. “People want to know more specifically how they can contribute to the defence of the country when day X comes,” he said.

Calls to consider the military’s capacity

Both the former and current commanders of the Lithuanian military have expressed support for a professional army rather than one based on conscripts. Seimas members interviewed by LRT.lt said the military currently lacked both training grounds and enough instructors to train a large influx of new soldiers.

“This is not something politicians should introduce. The system must be ready,” Martinaitis said.

In an interview with BNS, military commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras said the military’s goal by 2030 was to call up “almost everyone who wants and is able” to serve, reaching 7,000 to 8,000 conscripts through various forms of service. By comparison, about 5,000 conscripts are planned for 2026.

Jekaterina Rojaka, a member of the Seimas representing the Democratic Union For Lithuania, also highlighted the military’s needs. She said the country was not prepared for such a rapid change and that infrastructure, instructor training and physical preparedness would be obstacles.

Rojaka said that, in the future, women could also be considered for military service. She referred to the Israeli model, under which both men and women are conscripted, as a possible option for Lithuania.

The Conservative proposal to begin universal conscription in 2030 has also failed to win support from the Liberal Movement, the Conservatives’ ideological allies.