Lithuania Is Preparing A "surprise" For Its Neighboring Dictators

28.10.2026, 9:59
4,292

The country is taking the situation seriously.

American troops American troops continue to arrive, while conservatives in parliament are proposing to abandon the lottery-based military draft and reinstate mandatory military service as early as 2030.

The Republic of Lithuania is intensively preparing to defend its own territory, and is doing so not only through political statements but also by creating the legal, military, and diplomatic conditions necessary to ensure that military aggression against this Baltic nation would prove too costly for a potential aggressor.

For a long time, the presence of U.S. military personnel in the country has been one of the factors contributing to Lithuania’s security. Along with the European air forces stationed in Šiauliai on a rotational basis, U.S. ground forces were one of the most important factors in the country’s sustained security.

And even after the arrival of the vanguard units of the newly forming German armored brigade—which is intended to shield Lithuania from a possible attack by the dictatorial alliance of the Lukashenko regime and the Kremlin— the importance of U.S. troops has not diminished, because the threat is gradually escalating.

For this reason, after the previous rotation departed in June 2026—and was not immediately replaced by a new contingent—the issue caused tension within Lithuanian society. This tension began to ease only in the fall, with the arrival of a new rotation of U.S. troops. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda publicly announces the arrival of each new group, underscoring the importance of the U.S.-Lithuanian alliance.

The history of cooperation between the U.S. military and the Lithuanians has also seen tragic episodes. When an armored vehicle sank in a swamp along with its crew at the Pabradė training ground last year, the entire country followed the search for the missing soldiers and equipment, and the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense made every possible effort to locate the missing personnel.

Later, many Lithuanians came to pay their respects to the fallen American soldiers. Such episodes strengthen mutual trust and human relationships between foreign military personnel and local residents.

Incidentally, the German strategy for establishing a strong connection between Bundeswehr soldiers from the new division—which will defend Lithuania—is similar. To help German officers and soldiers feel a stronger connection to the land they are tasked with defending, a comprehensive infrastructure—including housing, a daycare center, and a school—is being established for their families. This approach significantly changes one’s attitude toward what and whom you are defending.

It’s one thing to fulfill an alliance obligation; it’s quite another to protect your own family and property. The places where you yourself live.

An initiative by the Lithuanian Conservative Party is also aimed at strengthening the connection between citizens and the defense of the country; it calls for replacing the random draft system (lottery) with universal military service.

The politicians’ proposal is backed by a survey conducted in the summer of 2026, in which 76% of Lithuanians supported the return of universal conscription for young men and the option of voluntary service for young women. Lithuanian society is aware of the risks and threats to the country’s independence and is ready to strengthen Lithuania’s defense.

But there are also many obstacles. Lithuania’s defense industry criticizes politicians for placing defense orders abroad and failing to provide sufficient support for the country’s own rapidly growing industry.

The head of the Association of Defense Industry Manufacturers , Vaidas Sabaliauskas, says that one of the main problems is a lack of government contracts. This hinders Lithuanian companies in foreign markets: buyers are understandably curious as to why the Lithuanian army does not purchase products from these arms manufacturers. Lithuania is preparing to produce highly sought-after 155-mm shells, mines, and explosives, and the arms factory in Giraitė is being expanded.

These preparations for the country’s defense clearly indicate that Lithuania takes seriously the danger it faces, living with two dictatorships as neighbors.

Sergey Kovalchuk, “Solidarity”

PATREON Support the website

Write your comment 1