Stories
Kremlin Warns Lithuania Over Nuclear Ban Lift
- •Lithuania's parliament voted to lift the constitutional ban on hosting nuclear arms in its first of two required ballots.
- •Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the move risks escalating tensions and threatens regional stability.
- •Moscow also criticized proposals regarding the potential expansion of US military infrastructure near its borders.
- •The legal overhaul aims to remove prohibitions put in place more than thirty years ago after Lithuania gained independence.
Key Questions Answered
Lithuania's political leaders agreed to remove the constitutional ban due to a worsening security environment, increased geopolitical instability, and the need for greater strategic flexibility. President Gitanas Nausėda noted that the constitution was written under totally different geopolitical circumstances and that removing the restriction ensures the country is not constrained if security deteriorates further.
The Kremlin warned that Lithuania's preliminary decision to lift the nuclear arms ban, along with a US proposal to build a military base, risks leading to a new round of regional escalation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that moving NATO military infrastructure and nuclear weapons closer to Russian borders does not contribute to European stability and predictability.
Amending Lithuania's constitution to remove the ban requires a two-thirds majority vote in parliament across two separate ballots held at least three months apart. The Lithuanian parliament voted in favor of the change during the first of these required ballots.
