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Lithuania removes constitutional prohibition on nuclear-weapon deployments amid Russia security concerns
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

International/The Apex Times/Jul 2, 6:54 AM EDT

Lithuania removes constitutional prohibition on nuclear-weapon deployments amid Russia security concerns

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said leaders agreed to repeal a constitutional provision barring the domestic deployment of nuclear weapons and foreign military bases, citing an outdated framework as security conditions change.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Lithuania, a NATO member that borders Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, has agreed to remove a constitutional ban on the domestic deployment of nuclear weapons, the country’s President said Thursday. The decision, announced shortly after lawmakers in Finland voted to lift a longstanding nuclear-weapon prohibition, is intended to update Lithuania’s constitutional language to match the security environment facing the Baltic region.

President Gitanas Nausėda said Lithuania’s top political leaders were practically unanimous in support of removing, rather than amending, the constitutional provision that limits how nuclear weapons could be deployed on Lithuanian territory. Speaking to reporters, Nausėda characterized Article 137 of the Constitution as outdated and obsolete, and said it would be truly unfortunate if Lithuania became a weak link within NATO.

Lithuania’s Article 137, according to the report, explicitly prohibited the deployment of weapons of mass destruction and also barred the establishment of foreign military bases on Lithuanian territory. By removing the clause, Nausėda said Vilnius would be able to adapt to evolving security circumstances in the future, while keeping the rest of Lithuania’s legal framework in place.

Nausėda also said there were no immediate plans to store nuclear weapons in Lithuania. In his remarks, he linked the constitutional review to deterioration in the broader geopolitical situation, arguing that the constitution was written when conditions were fundamentally different.

The change comes amid heightened deterrence planning across Europe following Russia’s war against Ukraine, and it places Lithuania’s domestic constitutional posture more in line with the wider NATO debate on deterrence and readiness. The report also noted that Lithuania has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies during the more than four-year conflict.

Lithuanian officials framed the constitutional move as a way to preserve flexibility within NATO structures rather than a step toward near-term deployment. Still, changing the constitutional language is a significant legal action, and the practical effect depends on the formal steps required to amend the Constitution and implement any related national security policies.

The announcement also echoes similar legal adjustments in the region. Finland’s lawmakers voted to lift their longstanding nuclear-weapon ban shortly before Lithuania’s decision, underscoring how member states near Russia are revisiting constitutional restrictions tied to nuclear deployment and, in some cases, foreign basing.

As Lithuania moves forward from presidential statements to the constitutional amendment process, the next public question will be how domestic legal procedures will be carried out, including what legislative and parliamentary approvals are required and how the government will describe the safeguards that would govern any future security-related deployments.

Why It Matters

  • The constitutional removal increases Lithuania’s legal flexibility to adapt security arrangements as conditions change, while avoiding an immediate shift to nuclear storage, according to Nausėda.
  • The timing alongside Finland’s vote suggests a broader regional review of nuclear-related constitutional restrictions in NATO countries bordering Russia.
  • Because the clause also addressed foreign military bases, removing it could affect the scope of future discussions over hosting and basing arrangements under Lithuania’s legal framework.
  • The change may influence public and parliamentary debate over deterrence policy, legal safeguards, and how Lithuania positions itself within NATO structures.
  • The formal process for constitutional amendment will determine how quickly the change can take legal effect and what limits remain under Lithuanian law.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda said leaders agreed to remove a constitutional provision on nuclear-weapon deployment.
  • The change would repeal Article 137, which the report says prohibited deployment of weapons of mass destruction and establishment of foreign military bases on Lithuanian territory.
  • Nausėda said Article 137 had become outdated and obsolete and that parliamentary and government leaders were practically unanimous in favor of removal rather than amendment.
  • Nausėda said there were no immediate plans to store nuclear weapons in Lithuania.
  • The decision was announced shortly after Finland’s lawmakers voted to lift their longstanding nuclear-weapon ban.
  • Lithuania is a NATO member bordering Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave.