Lithuanian government rejects easing A-category weapons trade rules

The Lithuanian government has rejected proposals to liberalise trade in A-category weapons and explosives, saying the changes would not serve the country’s national security interests, LRT reported.

The Cabinet approved the conclusion of the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation on Wednesday. The government said it supported the proposals’ goals of encouraging investment, developing the defence industry, generating additional budget revenue and strengthening Lithuania’s reputation as a reliable defence-sector partner, but considered the proposed measures unsuitable for achieving them.

The lawmakers’ draft would lift the ban on exporting, importing and transporting in transit A-category weapons classified as military equipment. It would also allow companies to act as intermediaries in explosives trading in Lithuania and permit the sale of explosives during a state of emergency, martial law or mobilisation.

The ministry said liberalising weapons-control policy without establishing appropriate oversight measures would conflict with national security interests. The government said effective controls were needed to reduce the risk of weapons reaching unintended end users in conflict regions or entering illegal circulation.

According to the government, the proposed legislation does not provide such a control mechanism. Responsibility for trading in A-category weapons, checking transactions and preventing unwanted diversion or use would instead fall on state institutions rather than exporters, importers or intermediaries.

The government also criticised a proposal to allow companies that trade in A-category weapons or represent their manufacturers to organise weapons exhibitions. It said the drafts did not set sufficient security requirements for such events, creating a risk that displayed weapons could be stored or protected improperly and enter illegal circulation.

The Cabinet also rejected the proposal to remove the ban on selling explosives during a state of emergency, martial law or mobilisation. It said the change was not justified in the draft’s explanatory note and that the Lithuanian Armed Forces had not identified a need to lift the ban. Additional controls would also be required if individuals and companies were allowed to trade in all types of A-category weapons and explosives or act as intermediaries in such transactions.