Lithuania has initiated a first step towards lifting the constitutional ban on nuclear weapons on its state territory. This brings the Baltic state legally closer to its neighbors and simultaneously sends a signal to its allies. Meanwhile, European partners are discussing how to strengthen NATO's deterrence against Russia and increase its credibility in view of the heightened security situation.
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The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, voted on Tuesday (October 6) with 106 votes to 18 and six abstentions to advance a constitutional amendment. This would remove the clause that prohibits weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases on Lithuanian territory, thus far marking a clear legal boundary for any nuclear presence of allied forces.
The amendment still requires a second vote after a constitutionally mandated waiting period of three months. At least 94 of the 141 Seimas deputies must approve it for it to take effect. The final vote is expected on January 12, so the debate in the country is likely to gain further momentum in the coming weeks.
Fuller integration into NATO's nuclear deterrence
"With this constitutional amendment, the Lithuanian armed forces could fully participate in planning and exercises of all NATO deterrence measures," said Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, chairwoman of the Liberal Movement faction. Lithuania could thus participate in areas where it has so far been only partially or not at all involved for legal reasons.
Lithuania borders Russia's close ally Belarus to the east for about 172 kilometers. (Archive photo) © State Border Guard Service/dpa
Currently, Article 137 of the Lithuanian constitution stipulates that no weapons of mass destruction and no military bases of foreign states may be located in Lithuania. The country borders Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, thus being in close proximity to Russian military sites. Under current law, allied aircraft or ships with nuclear weapons for deterrence purposes would therefore not be allowed to fly into Lithuania or call at Lithuanian ports.
Legal hurdles and security policy disadvantages
Proponents of the reform now see the constitutional clause as a legal obstacle to Lithuania's full participation in NATO's nuclear deterrence arrangements. They warn that the country is at a disadvantage compared to other alliance partners and cannot benefit from joint planning and capabilities to the same extent as its neighbors in an emergency.
"Our neighboring countries like Latvia, Estonia, and Poland do not have such restrictions," said Remigijus Motuzas, chairman of the Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee, in parliament in September. "We must not be less protected than other NATO states. We must send a signal that Lithuania is a full part of NATO's nuclear deterrence and is ready to bear the associated obligations."
NATO describes nuclear deterrence as part of its collective defense, alongside conventional capabilities and missile defense. At the same time, the alliance emphasizes that its nuclear policy remains in line with its commitments to arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation, and regularly points out that nuclear weapons are intended solely to deter an attack.
Threat from Russia increases political pressure
For Lithuania, the issue has become particularly urgent. "Deterrence by NATO, including nuclear deterrence, is part of collective defense," said Motuzas, referring to the changed security situation since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He emphasized that Russia has rapidly modernized its nuclear arsenal in recent years and stationed nuclear weapons in close proximity to Lithuania – in Kaliningrad and in Belarus.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that Lithuania's step, along with further plans to expand US and NATO military infrastructure in the region, carries the risk of further escalating tensions, Reuters reported. Moscow has long accused NATO of approaching its border and disrupting the strategic balance.
The warnings come at a time when Russia is intensifying its nuclear rhetoric towards NATO. Moscow recently threatened a nuclear counterstrike if attempts were made to isolate the exclave of Kaliningrad, which borders Lithuania and Poland. Such threats fuel concerns in the Baltic states and Poland about becoming the scene of a possible confrontation.
Finland is already lifting its ban on nuclear weapons
Lithuania is not acting alone. Other countries in the region are also reviewing their legal restrictions in light of the heightened security situation and their new role within the alliance. They aim to ensure that national laws do not conflict with collective obligations.
Finland, which joined NATO in 2023 after decades of military non-alignment, lifted its statutory ban on nuclear weapons earlier this year. The government justified this by the need to ensure that Finnish law does not restrict the fulfillment of obligations as a NATO ally, for example, during the transit or stationing of allied forces in a crisis.
In June, the Finnish parliament passed amendments to the Atomic Energy Act, removing the ban on nuclear warheads. The law came into force on July 1, creating the legal prerequisites for a rapid response to NATO planning in an emergency without additional legislative changes.
Signal effect for Europe's nuclear cooperation
"This historic reform strengthens the security of Finland and NATO as a whole," stated Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen on the X platform. He presented the decision as a contribution to the credibility of the alliance's deterrence, without it automatically implying a physical presence of nuclear weapons on Finnish territory.
However, Helsinki emphasizes that the reform does not mean that Finland wants to acquire or host nuclear weapons, and that NATO has no plans to station them in the country. The change is primarily a safeguard to prevent domestic hurdles from arising in a crisis if allies want to provide certain capabilities.
Finland joins France's nuclear initiative
Finland has now joined an initiative led by France aimed at strengthening European security through closer cooperation on nuclear deterrence. President Emmanuel Macron is proposing what Paris calls "forward-looking deterrence" – closer cooperation with European partners around France's independent nuclear capabilities and joint consultations on their role.
The United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Denmark, and Norway already support the French initiative. Observers see this as a signal that Europe wants to take more responsibility for its own security in the face of global tensions and strengthen the European pillar within NATO.
