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Lithuania Takes First Step Towards Lifting Nuclear Weapons Ban

October 6, 2026

Lithuania’s parliament has approved a constitutional change in its first vote that would lift the country’s ban on nuclear weapons, Reuters reported. The legislative change must pass a second vote before it can take effect.

Lithuania Parliament Votes to Lift Nuclear Weapons Ban

The Lithuanian parliament voted in favour of removing the constitutional ban on nuclear weapons on Tuesday.

A total of 106 out of 141 MPs supported the proposal. The amendment requires a two-thirds majority in two parliamentary votes, with the second vote scheduled for January 12.

The proposed change would remove restrictions introduced more than three decades ago after Lithuania separated from the Soviet Union.

President Gitanas Nauseda said in July that political parties had reached an agreement to lift the ban, arguing that Russia’s actions had changed security assessments in the region.

No Immediate Plans to Store Nuclear Weapons in Lithuania

Nauseda has stressed that there are currently no plans to deploy or store nuclear weapons on Lithuanian territory.

However, he said lifting the constitutional ban would give Lithuania the ability to take necessary action if the security situation changes.

The president has also said Lithuania will remain a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

The move does not itself mean that nuclear weapons will be placed in Lithuania. It would instead remove the current constitutional restriction and create greater legal flexibility.

Lithuania Seeks Permanent US Military Base

Alongside the nuclear weapons debate, Lithuania has also expressed its readiness to cover the costs of establishing a permanent US military base on its territory if Washington accepts the proposal.

Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius announced Lithuania’s willingness to finance the establishment of the base.

US President Donald Trump said he would consider Lithuania’s request for a permanent US military presence. Reuters reported that Lithuania already hosts a rotating US armored battalion of around 1,000 troops.

Russia Warns of Rising Regional Tensions

The nuclear weapons vote has also drawn a warning from Moscow.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that moving US military infrastructure closer to Russia and potentially allowing nuclear weapons to be stationed in Lithuania would not contribute to stability and could increase tensions in Europe.

Lithuania is a NATO and European Union member and shares borders with Russia and Belarus, making regional security a major concern for the country.

The proposed constitutional change still requires a second parliamentary vote on January 12 before it can take effect.