Lithuania to discuss reintroduction of permanent conscription

Monday March 14 will see Lithuanian President, Dalia Grybauskaite, hold a meeting of the State Defence Council, which is set to discuss the reintroduction of permanent military conscription.

Military purchases will be another issue on the agenda.

In 2015, Lithuania decided to resume the conscription scheme until 2020. 

Defence Minister, Juozas Olekas, believes the decision on the permanent reintroduction of recruitment should be based on an analysis of the number of professional troops available to the Armed Forces. 

Defence Chief, Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Zukas is in support of a mixed army consisting of both recruits and professionals.

Consisting of the president, the prime minister, the parliamentary speaker, the defence minister and the chief of defence, the State Defence Council discusses and coordinates key issues regarding national defence.