Christine Drews Sieger
Lithuania has taken a major step toward allowing NATO nuclear weapons on its territory by proposing to remove a long-standing constitutional ban.
Lithuanian lawmakers took a decisive step this week toward reshaping national defense policy.
Members of the parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee voted 7-2 on September 9 to approve a constitutional amendment.
The proposal targets Article 137 of the Lithuanian Constitution. That specific clause currently prohibits hosting weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases on national soil.
Should the president and the full Seimas ratify the proposal, Article 137 will be permanently erased from the constitution.
Deputy Minister Martynas Dobrovolskis confirmed that the Ministry of Justice fully backs the move, according to tv3.lv, cited by UNITED24 Media.
Seeking equal footing
Removing the constitutional prohibition would allow Vilnius to integrate fully into NATO security planning, as officials argue current barriers leave the country vulnerable in a changing security climate.
Lithuanian Parliamentary Speaker Juozas Olekas highlighted the nation’s unique position during the committee hearing.
“When agreeing on common collective defense plans, and especially deterrence, Lithuania looks like a black sheep in the Alliance, as it is the only one with such a restriction,” Olekas said, according to tv3.lv.
Addressing the committee, Olekas emphasized the necessity of a strong defense, stating:
“Nuclear weapons today are the most powerful deterrent capable of stopping an aggressor crossing our borders.”
Joining northern allies
Despite the strong committee vote, opposition is still present inside parliament.
Raimondas Šukys of the Reminisce of Nemunas party argued that such a crucial constitutional change should first be put to a public vote.
The Lithuanian initiative closely follows similar legal action taken by Finland earlier this summer.
Finnish lawmakers recently legalized the “import, transit, and storage of nuclear weapons” for national defense, a bill signed into law by President Alexander Stubb.
According to Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen, lifting these restrictions was necessary to gain full protection under NATO’s nuclear umbrella amid escalating European security threats, tv3.lv reports.
Removing the Barrier
The proposed constitutional change would not automatically bring nuclear weapons to Lithuanian soil.
Instead, it would remove a legal barrier that currently prevents the country from hosting weapons of mass destruction regardless of NATO’s collective defense needs.
According to Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, parliamentary leaders are now aiming to complete the constitutional amendment during the extended legislative session, underlining the growing urgency surrounding the issue.
For Lithuania, the move is ultimately about giving NATO greater flexibility in future defense planning as security concerns along the Alliance’s eastern flank continue to grow.
