Lithuanian army Commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras says he currently sees no need to call up women for compulsory military service. According to him, it is necessary to utilize the available number of men and create conditions for them all to perform their duty.
"We still have a considerable reserve of young men who, for various reasons, cannot perform that duty. (…) Let's create conditions for every young man and boy to serve and perform their duty to the homeland," said R. Vaikšnoras in the program "ELTA savaitė".
"Women still have the opportunity to voluntarily come, sign, choose the term they want, a specific unit, and later either remain in professional military service or go out into life (…). But is it necessary today (to call women into service – ELTA)? I would say – let's first use the resources we have, and then consider it," he added.
According to R. Vaikšnoras, currently the Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of 10 percent women, who serve in various positions - from privates to officers.
For her part, Minister of National Defense Dovilė Šakalienė has previously said that mandatory conscription of women into military service is only a matter of time if a sufficient number of capabilities is to be ensured.
ELTA reminds that this year it is planned to call up over 3,9 thousand young men for compulsory military service. This number will gradually grow every year, and from 2027. more than 6 thousand conscripts will be called up to serve - the limit numbers will range from 4240 to 7040 young men. According to the assessment of the Ministry of National Defence, in the long run this will create the conditions for a transition to universal conscription.
Vilius Narkunas (ELTA)
