Lithuania to lift constitutional ban on nuclear weapons

Lithuania’s political leaders have agreed to remove a constitutional ban on nuclear weapons and foreign military bases, marking a major shift in the country’s security posture driven by fears of Russian aggression. President Gitanas Nausėda announced the agreement on July 2 following talks with parliamentary faction leaders, stating there was broad political consensus that the prohibition, enshrined after independence from the Soviet Union, is now obsolete.

The move would delete Article 137 of Lithuania’s constitution, which currently forbids weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases. President Nausėda said opinions were practically unanimous among party leaders, with most supporting the article’s complete removal rather than amendment. The next step involves deciding whether to enact the change through a parliamentary vote, requiring two-thirds majorities in two votes, or to hold a referendum. Parliament Speaker Juozas Olekas said the amendments could be adopted by the end of this year.

Officials emphasized the change is a strategic necessity to align Lithuania with NATO’s deterrence strategy and avoid becoming a weak link on the alliance’s eastern flank. Lithuania...