Lithuania's armed forces need to expand their capacity to take in and train recruits after a record number of young people expressed interest in mandatory initial military service, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said on Monday.
Society has shown us that it is ready, young Lithuanian citizens have shown that they are ready, and now we on the military side must also raise our ambition," Kaunas told LRT.
More than 8,100 applications were received this year for voluntary mandatory initial military service, though limited capacity means not all applicants will be able to begin training this year. Nearly 4,400 people volunteered to serve before being called up under the draft, while a further 3,700 already on the conscription lists requested priority enlistment.
Kaunas said the plan was to admit around 5,000 young people this year, though he noted the figure could potentially be raised by up to 530 additional conscripts. Selection will be based primarily on health assessments, with military commanders choosing those fit for service.
The minister put the surge in interest down to public perceptions of the changing security situation, as well as improving conditions within the armed forces.
