The Seimas of Lithuania approved in the first vote an amendment to the Constitution that lifts the ban on the deployment on the country’s territory of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, and military bases of foreign states. Ninety-nine deputies voted in favor, 13 against, and five abstained; two more votes are needed for final adoption, and the amendment must receive at least 94 votes out of 141.
According to the Lithuanian publication LRT, the next vote on the amendment is scheduled for October 6, and the final one for January 12, 2027. Adoption will require at least 94 votes out of 141.
Currently, Article 137 of the Lithuanian Constitution prohibits the deployment of weapons of mass destruction and military bases of foreign states in the country. It is proposed to remove this provision entirely from the basic law.
Supporters of the amendment argue that it will allow Lithuania not to create restrictions for NATO nuclear deterrence. The head of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, Remigijus Motuzas, said that Lithuania “should not be the weak link in NATO in the region”, and Conservative leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas called nuclear weapons one of the most effective means of deterrence.
The leader of the right-wing party “Dawn over the Nemunas”, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, opposed the amendment. He believes that Russia and Belarus may use the change to the Lithuanian Constitution in their propaganda.
Earlier, Russian officials had already commented on Lithuania’s intention to lift the ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that in that case Russia would target its nuclear weapons at Lithuania, and Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev stated that Lithuania could “disappear from the map of the world” in the event of a military conflict. State Duma deputy Alexey Zhuravlyov, commenting on the voting results for Gazeta.Ru, called for a preemptive strike with “Oreshniks” at the coordinates where nuclear weapons are expected to be deployed.
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