Vilnius:Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has announced plans to introduce universal military conscription by the year 2032. This decision aims to increase the number of young people required to serve in the military, addressing growing security concerns in the region.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the annual number of young people called up for military service is projected to increase from over 5,000 to approximately 7,500 under the new conscription system. This increase takes into consideration demographic trends and medical exemptions.

President Nauseda noted that setting the target for 2032 would provide Lithuania with adequate time to expand accommodation facilities for conscripts and train the necessary number of instructors. While women will remain eligible to serve in the armed forces, their participation will continue to be on a voluntary basis.

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius stated that the government initially aimed to implement universal conscription sooner but agreed to postpone the transition to 2032 based on military recommendations. He emphasized that while there is political will to expedite the process, the military's readiness is a significant factor, with the military indicating preparedness by 2032. Preparations will include training around 300 instructors and building adequate accommodation facilities for the conscripts.