Russia threatens to change Lithuania's security layout, Congress votes in first round to lift nuclear weapons ban

The threat posed by Russia is changing Lithuania's security layout. The country's Congress voted in the first round of constitutional amendments on the 6th to lift the ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons in the country for more than 30 years. In addition, US President Trump said that he would consider permanently stationing US troops in Lithuania.

Reuters reported on the 6th that 106 members of the 141-seat Lithuanian Parliament voted in favor of the constitutional amendment in the first round of voting on the 6th, exceeding the two-thirds majority threshold required to amend the constitution. The constitutional amendment must go through two rounds of voting by the National Assembly, and each time must obtain the support of at least two-thirds, or 94 members, before it can officially take effect; the second round of voting is scheduled to be held on January 12 next year.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said in July that the country's political parties had reached consensus on a plan to lift the nuclear weapons ban. However, he said that the purpose of lifting the ban is to enable the country to take action when the security situation changes. Even if it is finally passed, there are no immediate plans to deploy nuclear weapons in the country, and Lithuania will continue to abide by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Lithuania's push to amend the constitution to lift the ban on nuclear weapons, reflecting the threat posed by Russia, is changing the security considerations of countries in the Baltic region. After Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, it adopted a constitution in 1992, which explicitly prohibited the deployment of weapons of mass destruction in Lithuania.

On the other hand, Lithuania is also actively seeking a permanent U.S. military presence. Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) reported on the 6th that when asked on the 5th about Lithuania’s invitation to the United States to establish a permanent military base, U.S. President Trump said, “We will definitely study” this proposal.

In response, Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius issued a statement on the 6th saying that he was happy to see that this idea was being seriously considered. "Our partners only need to make a political decision on the permanent presence of the troops, and Lithuania is prepared to bear the relevant financial costs." He said the U.S. military presence in the country is "an extremely important deterrent and security guarantee." Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas also welcomed Trump's statement, saying it showed that the US president understood Lithuania's investment in defense and its determination to strengthen regional security.

The U.S. military is currently stationed in Lithuania on a rotational basis, with each batch of troops stationed for nine months; two U.S. Army battalions are expected to arrive there at the end of October for rotation.