Due to demographic changes, Lithuania will likely have to conscript all young men fit to serve in the military, Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas said on Thursday.
"One way or the other, we are moving towards a universal conscription model when practically all men [...] fit to serve are being called up for military service,” the minister told reporters.
According to the minister, some conscription-age men cannot serve due to health problems, and the existing demographic situation shows that even without the introduction of universal military service, "we will conscript practically every young man fit to serve" in 6–8 years.
On Thursday, Anušauskas presented a universal conscription feasibility study. It shows that universal conscription for young men after their school graduation could be introduced in six to eight years and it would cost hundreds of millions euros.
The defence minister said it was an assessment of all possibilities, not planned changes, adding that the existing conscription procedure was not being changed.
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"A study is not a political decision on universal conscription. It’s not a bill, not a law. A study is a type of research to look into all possible circumstances," Anušauskas said.
The study shows that initial investments into universal conscription would exceed 0.4 billion euros, rising to 1.5 billion euros in case of universal conscription of young men and women. Depending on the model, it would also cost additional 80 to 200 million euros.
Up to 6,100 young men could be conscripted every year, according to the study, or almost 12,000 young people, if females are included.
However, only a small share of people back compulsory military service for women, Anušauskas said.
Lithuania re-introduced partial conscription in 2015 in response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Currently, more than 3,800 men aged 18–23 are conscripted every year as well as young men who had their service deferred until the age of 26 due to their studies.
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