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Lithuania to reintroduce mandatory military service

Xinhua, February 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Lithuania's State Defense Council on Tuesday decided to reintroduce mandatory military service in the country.

The State Defense Council -- comprised of the president, prime minister, parliament speaker, defense minister and army chief -- made the decision after a meeting to discuss new security threats and the changing geopolitical situation.

Mandatory military service will be reintroduced temporarily, for five years. Every year, around 3,500 young men between the ages of 19 and 26 would be drafted in for the nine-month military service. The decision will have to be approved by the Seimas, the Lithuanian Parliament.

After the meeting, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said the changes in the manning of the Lithuanian army were necessary due to geopolitical changes in the region.

"Today's geopolitical environment demands to strengthen and speed up the manning of the armed forces. This must be done in the coming years," said Grybauskaite.

According to the president, compulsory military draft and a mixed type of armed forces will allow Lithuania to have a completely manned army in 2015-2016 and build a sufficient military reserve.

"The army must be properly prepared for the country's armed defense even in times of peace," emphasized Grybauskaite.

The Chief of Defense of Lithuania Major General Jonas Vytautas Zukas said that should the Seimas approve the decision, the first drafts to the military conscription would start in the third quarter of this year.

"After finishing the compulsory military service, the soldiers will be appointed to serve in the military reserve. Everyone interested will be able to participate in the selection and will be inducted into the professional army," he said in a press conference.

The conscription in Lithuania was abolished in 2008. Endit