Lithuania’s parliament supports lifting the constitutional ban on deploying nuclear weapons

For the amendment to take effect, Lithuania’s parliament must hold two more votes three months apart. The first is scheduled for October 9, the second for January 12; final approval requires at least 94 votes out of 141.

In early June, the Financial Times reported that the United States was holding talks on deploying nuclear weapons in Poland and the Baltic states. According to the publication’s sources, the discussion concerns American bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Lithuanian authorities confirmed that they are taking part in such talks and are considering introducing the corresponding amendments to the Constitution. In September, the Kremlin said that Lithuania would be “in the crosshairs” of Russian nuclear weapons if it placed a nuclear arsenal on its territory.

At present, American dual-capable aircraft that can carry nuclear weapons are stationed in six NATO countries: Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. After the start of its full-scale war with Ukraine, Russia deployed its nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Sources

• Material: meduza.io