Lithuanian military to prepare for universal conscription by 2030

Lithuanian military commander R. Vaikšnoras stated that the armed forces will be prepared for universal conscription by 2030. He noted that the military has a clear plan for personnel and capacity growth, aiming to reach an increase of approximately 8,000 conscripts by that year.

Vaikšnoras highlighted that universal conscription is one of six pillars of a transition toward total national defense. He also noted strong public support for the move, citing a Norstat survey where nearly 80 percent of the population expressed agreement.

The commander cautioned that increasing the number of conscripts requires significant resources for training, weaponry, equipment, and infrastructure. He explained that because military budgets are finite, expanding the conscript pool may necessitate trade-offs in other areas, such as funding for drones, robotics, or other advanced technical equipment.