Lithuania to Introduce Universal Military Conscription for Men in 2032

Lithuania plans to introduce universal military conscription for young men in 2032, replacing its current selective draft as the Baltic NATO member expands its armed forces amid security concerns over Russia.

President Gitanas Nausėda announced the decision to reporters on October 29, after a meeting of the State Defence Council, which brings together the country’s political and military leadership.

Annual Draft to Rise to About 7,500

Lithuania currently drafts more than 5,000 young people a year. Under the present system, young people aged 18 to 22 are called up for initial military service after leaving school, but the annual list of conscripts is still compiled by a random computer draw within a set quota. This year’s draft list included 42,556 young people, of whom about 5,000 were due to be called up, according to LRT.

Under universal conscription, Nausėda said, about 7,500 young people would be called up each year. The figure takes into account demographic trends and the fact that some young people are medically unfit for service. Women would continue to be able to serve voluntarily. Nausėda said compulsory service for women could only be discussed in the “distant future.”

Why 2032 Was Chosen

Nausėda said 2032 would give the country time to build adequate accommodation for the larger intake and to train enough instructors. He said about 350 additional instructors would be needed, and that training an instructor takes three to four years. Authorities also need to balance conscript training with refresher training for reservists, he said.

“I think implementing conscription from 2032 is optimal,” Nausėda said. He also estimated that creating the necessary conditions could cost about €120 million.

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said the government had wanted a faster transition but was persuaded by the military. “You could say there is political will, but at the same time, there is the question of the military’s readiness. The military has clearly stated that they would be ready by 2032,” he told reporters. The date was debated “at length and in detail, with lively debates” at the council, he said, and the preparations include training some 300 instructors and building suitable housing so that conscripts do not have to sleep in containers or makeshift premises.

New Service Options for Conscripts

The council also agreed to expand the range of service options. Conscripts could train as drone operators or assist the State Border Guard Service and firefighting and rescue services, Nausėda said. Conscripts in Lithuania serve nine months, though this year a shorter three- or six-month option was introduced, LRT reported.

Reintroduced in 2015, Debated Since

Lithuania ended conscription in 2008 and restored partial conscription in 2015, citing increased security threats after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The country is also building up its national forces: a 1st Division was re-established in January 2025, with full operational capability planned by 2030, according to the Defence Ministry. Germany’s 45th Panzer Brigade, activated in Lithuania in April 2025, is due to reach full capability by the end of 2027, with about 5,000 soldiers and civilian personnel. Europe is expanding conscription and reserves as Russia’s threat grows, and Clash Report has looked at how and where Russia could strike NATO, from the Baltics to the Mediterranean.

Public Support and Political Debate

An August 2026 poll by Norstat, commissioned by the Total Defence (Visuotinė gynyba) association, found that 76.3% of 1,501 respondents supported universal conscription, with a margin of error of up to 3 percentage points. About 51% wanted it introduced as soon as possible and over 25% by 2030, while about 12% opposed it. The association, which campaigns for universal conscription, commissioned the survey.

On October 27, Laurynas Kasčiūnas, leader of the opposition Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats, registered draft amendments in parliament to introduce universal conscription from January 1, 2030. The proposal would end the random selection and call up all eligible men, with women still free to volunteer. Universal conscription is not yet enshrined in Lithuanian law, and the council’s decision sets the timetable rather than amending the law itself.