Lithuania Strengthens Military Forces with Expanded Conscription

The State Defence Council of Lithuania approved the increase in the number of Armed Forces and the number of conscripts.

The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense reported on this.

The draft amendments to the Law “On the Basic Structure of the Armed Forces and the Limit of the Armed Forces” stipulate that the total number of soldiers in the Armed Forces will increase from 20,840 to 29,380.

It is also reported that the maximum number of persons subject to conscription will increase from 4,240 to 7,040. The innovation should come into force after approval by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

Militarnyi reported that the State Defence Council of Lithuania approved the purchase of German Leopard 2 tanks.

The Ministry of Defense was instructed to start negotiations with German manufacturers and other countries interested in purchasing this combat vehicle.

The Defense Council also approved the creation of an artillery regiment as part of the new division.

An air defense unit and an engineer battalion will become regiments.

The structure of the Lithuanian Naval Force will also be expanded to increase combat capabilities.

On January 22, 2024, it was reported that Defense Ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania had agreed on the future joint use of HIMARS rocket systems.

The purpose of the declaration is to create a framework for the joint use of these weapons systems in both peacetime and wartime.

In addition, representatives of the countries agreed to build a defense line on the eastern borders. For NATO, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are one operational area.