Lithuania moves to lift ban on nuclear weapons deployment

Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas, has approved dropping the ban on deploying nuclear weapons on its territory.

After discussing the issue, it referred an amendment to the Constitution to the relevant parliamentary committees for consideration, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The move was supported by 99 MPs in a plenary vote, while five abstained and 13 voted against. “Nuclear weapons are the basis of deterrence. If you give that up, you are giving up full deterrence in your security strategy,” Laurynas Kasčiūnas, leader of the opposition Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats parliamentary group, said from the Seimas floor.

The Seimas resolution provides for the removal of Article 137 from the Constitution, which bans the deployment of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, on Lithuanian territory.

The Seimas will have to vote on the constitutional amendment twice, with a three-month interval between the votes. The change must be approved by a qualified majority of 94 of the 141 MPs. The first vote is scheduled for October 6, with the second set for January 12.

By Aghakazim Guliyev