State Defense Council

The general public and politicians have to decide whether universal military conscription in Lithuania should include women, Darius Kuliesius, President Gitanas Nauseda's chief national security advisor, said on Tuesday.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is convening on Monday morning a meeting of the State Defense Council to discuss tensions in the region over Russia's military buildup near Ukraine's borders.

Lithuanian Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga claims the presidential office see no basis for calling a meeting of the State Defense Council over the procurement of a coronavirus vaccine.

Lithuania's State Defense Council will decide on the country's participation in the creation of a coronavirus vaccine together with EU member states.

The spokeswoman for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said she had no information on a possible exchange of spies with Lithuania and Norway.

Lithuania and Russia have agreed on an exchange of people convicted of espionage, well-informed sources have confirmed to BNS.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is on Wednesday calling a meeting of the country's State Defense Council. But the matters to be discussed at the meeting are not disclosed.

The Defense Ministry will propose to somewhat increase Lithuania's military contribution to missions in Mali and Afghanistan and to send troops to the Strait of Hormuz to help protect shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Lithuania is considering sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz to contribute to an international mission to protect shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis rejected on Wednesday criticism from President Dalia Grybauskaitė's office over the pace of defense budget growth.

Lithuania's presidential office believes the government's planned increase in the defense budget next year is too slow.

Lithuania's defense budget is projected to reach 2.01 percent of GDP next year, according to a draft plan released on Tuesday.

Ambassador Vygaudas Ušackas, a presidential candidate, plans to seek the establishment of an American military base in Lithuania, aimed at deterring Russia.

The Lithuanian State Defence Council proposed on Tuesday to continue gradually increasing defense spending to reach 2.5 percent of GDP in 2030.

The Lithuanian State Defence Council will discuss the country's priority defence needs at its meeting on Tuesday, the president's press office said.

As Lithuania plans to increase its contribution to international missions, the country's parliament is asked to give the green light for sending more troops to fight the jihadists.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė is submitting to the parliament for approval a resolution that would allow sending more Lithuanian troops to international operations, the president's press office said on Tuesday.

Lithuania plans to increase its contribution to international operations by around 30 percent, the president's office said on Monday as the State Defense Council held a meeting.

The Lithuanian State Defense Council will discuss the needs of the national defense system and the country's participation in international operations in 2018 and 2019 at its meeting on Monday.

The Lithuanian State Defence Council will discuss the needs of the national defense system and the country's participation in international operations at its meeting next week.