“We assess the current situation, I understand that the general call might be one of the deterrent messages for Russia. Only four NATO countries have universal conscription. Now we need it – first of all, we need to listen to the people, whether people support or understand the situation, that more young people must come and be prepared for national defense. We need to talk realistically and make serious decisions,” V. Blinkevičiūtė told Žinių radio on Friday.
On Wednesday, the Government of Lithuania approved the changes proposed by the Ministry of National Defense, which form the legal prerequisites for the implementation of universal male conscription. This will still have to be approved by the Seimas.
“Socdems will definitely decide following assessing the following – the existing infrastructure, do we have enough barracks, do we have places to accommodate those people, where will we call them, are there enough personnel, sergeants, non-commissioned officers who will train them?” she said.
The party chairman raised the question of why this reform was being prepared for so long, although the Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anušauskas mentioned its initiation at the beginning of the year.
“What can be done all year round, the war is going on, the enemy is outside the door. I don’t understand how it is possible to prepare the reform for a year, to bring it now, now it will come to the Seimas. The chairman of the party says that this is the past, it was necessary to reform conscripts in 2022”, said V. Blinkevičiūtė.
According to her, “there are good things” in the prepared reform, but few young people come to do military service, too many are recognized as unfit.
“The question of whether 3-6 months is really enough for a young person to acquire the necessary skills to defend the homeland by performing military service for such a short time, perhaps – the questions must be answered by military specialists,” said the party chairman.
The debate among politicians regarding strengthening defenses is heating up following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has failed to mount a quick successful counterattack this year and experts warn that Moscow’s rebuilding capabilities might increase pressure on NATO in the future.
According to the Minister of National Defense, Arvydas Anušauskas, if the number of conscripts reached 5 thousand per year, the existing resources of the army would be enough to train them, so it would not require much additional funding. However, increasing the number of soldiers and implementing universal conscription would require the creation of new military units.
According to A. Anušauskas, in order to call up to 7,000 people to military service per year. youth, four additional battalions need to be created. For that infrastructure, weapons, equipment, regarding 500 million should be allocated within five years. euros.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, the full implementation of the general call would take at least six years.
Now, regarding 3.8 thousand people are called up for the nine-month military service every year. young people.
The chairman of the ruling Union of the Fatherland-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD), Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Thursday that he promises to hold a meeting of party leaders in the near future regarding the introduction of universal conscription into compulsory military service.
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2024-07-17 13:56:41
