Lithuanian parliament moves to repeal constitutional ban on nuclear weapons

The Seimas approved a draft amendment eliminating the constitutional provision that currently prohibits nuclear arms and foreign bases within Lithuania. The vote tally was 99 in favor, 13 against and five abstentions. The amendment process mandates two additional votes, spaced by at least three months, each requiring at least 94 of the 141 parliamentarians to pass.

A final vote is slated for early 2027. Lithuanian leaders argue that the security environment has shifted dramatically due to Russia's actions in Ukraine, nuclear threats, and increased Russian military presence nearby. They seek the ability to join NATO's nuclear deterrence framework without constitutional constraints. The Kremlin warned that any nuclear deployment in Lithuania would become a target for Russian forces, to which Lithuania's foreign minister responded that the country is already a target.