Aleksa says lifting weapons ban would strengthen deterrence

Lithuania’s Deputy Defence Minister Karolis Aleksa says removing the constitutional ban on weapons of mass destruction would send Russia a stronger deterrence signal rather than encourage it to attack Lithuania, LRT reported.

“This sends a huge deterrence signal, because we can clearly see the methods Russia has used since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine, including increasingly sharp and repeated elements of nuclear blackmail,” Aleksa told reporters at the Seimas on Tuesday.

He said the change would signal that Lithuania was prepared to take all possible lawful measures to protect its sovereignty.

Aleksa stressed that adopting the amendment would not in itself mean that nuclear weapons would be deployed in Lithuania. He said there were no such plans in peacetime, but the amendment would allow the possibility of considering such a decision in the event of a crisis or war.

The Seimas approved the proposed constitutional amendment after consideration on Tuesday. The measure received 99 votes in favour, 13 against and five abstentions.

The amendment would remove the current provision in Article 137 of the Constitution stating that weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases cannot be located on Lithuanian territory.

Opposition to the amendment has come from Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the Nemunas Dawn party, who said it was unnecessary and could be used by Russia for propaganda. Ignas Vėgėlė of the mixed parliamentary group also questioned why the proposal would remove both the ban on weapons of mass destruction and the provision on foreign military bases.

Aleksa said removing the provision would not create a legal gap regarding the presence of foreign troops or military forces in Lithuania, as those issues were already regulated by law. He cited legislation covering international cooperation, military events and exercises, as well as rules on troop arrivals, flights and permission to cross Lithuanian airspace.

Supporters of the amendment argue that the current constitutional provision limits Lithuania’s ability to participate fully in NATO’s collective defence and deterrence system.