President Gitanas Nausėda announced that Lithuania will implement a mandatory military service requirement for all eligible young men beginning in 2032. This shift in recruitment policy will increase the country’s annual military intake from current levels of over 5,000 people to approximately 7,500.
Military service will remain voluntary for women, although authorities noted the possibility of future discussions regarding their role in conscription. Under the new framework, recruits can specialize in emergency services, border security, or drone operations. As part of its broader military modernization, the government is also weighing the purchase of an artificial intelligence system from Palantir.