Lithuanian army chief: We will consider conscription, if we don’t attract enough volunteers

Major General Jonas Vytautas Žukas says increasing the number of troops is one of Lithuania’s priorities.

“Next year, we plan to gradually bolster our land forces by enlisting around 450 new servicemen to the professional military service. To reach that number, we will have to almost double the enlistment of young men to undergo basic military training from 900 to 1,500,” Žukas told the Lietuvos Žinios daily.

If the necessary number of young men is reached on a voluntary basis, then, the major general said, Lithuania will be able to form its army without conscripts.

“If we fail to gather that number, which we consider to be the minimum, we will have to consider other options. I do not discount the possibility of suggesting to the political leadership to restore partial or complete conscription,” Žukas said.