On September 22, the Lithuanian Seimas passed a resolution to repeal the constitutional ban on the deployment of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, on the country’s territory. Ninety-nine lawmakers voted in favor of the resolution, 13 voted against it, and five abstained.
To amend the Constitution, members of parliament must vote on the proposal twice, with a three-month interval between votes. At least 94 of the 141 members must support the measure for it to pass. Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas announced that the first vote will take place on October 6, with final approval scheduled for January 12 of next year.
Remigijus Motuzas, chairman of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs, noted that Lithuania must strengthen NATO’s nuclear deterrence and not be a weak link in the Alliance. He emphasized that the country must demonstrate its readiness to defend its independence by all means necessary.
Motuza also stated that the constitutional amendments would send a strong signal capable of reducing the risk of military aggression. Currently, Article 137 of the Constitution prohibits the deployment of weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases on Lithuanian territory.
Discussions regarding nuclear weapons have intensified following French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to create a new European nuclear deterrence framework. In addition, the Financial Times recently reported that the U.S. is considering deploying nuclear weapons in several new NATO countries in Europe.
