Seimas begins process to remove nuclear weapons ban from Constitution

Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas, has taken the first step toward removing a constitutional ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons in the country, LRT reports.

On Tuesday, 89 lawmakers voted in favor of the amendment, with 11 against and six abstentions. The current Constitution’s Article 137 prohibits the presence of weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases on Lithuanian territory.

To amend the Constitution, at least 94 out of 141 MPs must approve the change in two separate votes, with a three-month interval between them.

Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas, who proposed the amendment, argued that NATO’s nuclear capabilities serve as a reliable deterrent, reducing the risk of large-scale aggression against the Alliance. He stated that the constitutional ban no longer aligns with Lithuania’s security interests or the evolving security environment.

“No NATO member state has constitutional restrictions on the deployment of nuclear weapons in cases of aggression, threat of aggression, or collective defense,” Olekas said, noting that neighboring countries, including Finland, have already lifted similar restrictions.

He emphasized that Lithuania must not remain “the weak link” in the Alliance’s deterrence system, urging a clear and bold decision to affirm the country’s status as an equal partner.

The initiative to amend the Constitution was signed by 50 MPs from nearly all parliamentary factions. The opposition “Nemuno aušra” (Dawn of Nemunas) group did not support the proposal, with eight of its members voting against and five abstaining. Two other MPs from the Mixed Group and one from the “Valstietis” (Nation) faction also opposed the change, while one Mixed Group member abstained.

Some opponents questioned why the issue was not being put to a referendum. “What is the connection between democracy and the elimination of the possibility of a referendum, as well as patriotism and the removal of people from the most important constitutional article?” asked Aidas Gedvilas of “Nemuno aušra.”

Olekas responded that a referendum was not necessary, stating, “Our initiative, as responsible political leaders, is important, and given the situation, this can be done without a referendum.”

The amendments will now be reviewed by the Legal Affairs Committee before returning to the Seimas floor during the autumn session.

Last week, President Gitanas Nausėda met with parliamentary and government leaders, as well as faction elders, to discuss the issue. Following the meeting, it was announced that Lithuania’s top politicians agreed on the need to remove the constitutional ban, citing the changed geopolitical landscape. Nausėda noted that Lithuania is currently the only NATO member with a self-imposed restriction on nuclear weapon deployment.

Officials have stated that even with the constitutional change, Lithuania would continue to adhere to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and other international agreements it has signed.

The discussion is also influenced by French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal for a new European nuclear deterrence scheme, under which partner countries could temporarily host French strategic air forces with nuclear weapons. Earlier in June, the Financial Times reported that the U.S. is considering deploying nuclear weapons in several NATO states.