The National Defense Council of Lithuania today announced the introduction of compulsory military service for all young men from 2032, with the aim of strengthening national defense.
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29/10/2026
by
Lusa
O Lithuania's National Defense Council today announced the introduction of compulsory military service for all young men from 2032.
“ We have decided that the general mandatory military service will be implemented from 2032”, confirmed Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus.
The President added that women can also continue to provide military service voluntarily.
The Lithuanian Head of State said that the year 2032 was established for the implementation of the changes, so that the necessary funds could be invested until then in accommodation suitable for more recruits and training of instructors.
Currently, more than 5,000 young men are recruited every year, randomly selected, to serve for nine months in the Armed Forces, a number that with the introduction of universal mandatory military service would amount to about 7,500, taking into account the demographic situation and the fact that a part is not fit for health reasons.
Naus.
In addition, it indicated that the National Defense Council agreed to expand the range of service options, for example, allowing recruits to train as drone operators, collaborate with the State Border Service or work as firefighters or elements of rescue teams.
The partial re-establishment of military service in 2015 was justified by an increase in threats following Russia's 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.