Vilnius weighs nuclear policy shift to align with NATO

Lithuania’s defence minister has called for removing a constitutional ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons, arguing that the restriction limits the country’s ability to fully benefit from NATO’s defence capabilities.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the Ministry of Defence supports scrapping provisions that prohibit the presence of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear arms, on Lithuanian territory. He made the remarks in an interview with Žinių radijas.

“Lithuania is practically the only country in NATO that prohibits nuclear weapons,” Kaunas said. “This does not allow us to fully utilise the alliance’s defence potential, so I support abolishing the relevant article of the constitution.”

He noted that NATO maintains nuclear forces “both for defence” and “for deterrence,” suggesting Lithuania should align more closely with the alliance’s broader security posture.

The proposal has also been backed by Prime Minister-designate Mindaugas Sinkevičius, who earlier this week cited “considerations of political correctness” in support of revisiting the policy.

The discussion comes despite a recent reaffirmation of the existing ban. In late May 2026, Lithuania’s Seimas upheld a presidential veto blocking ships carrying nuclear weapons from entering the Klaipėda State Seaport.

President Gitanas Nausėda emphasised at the time that Article 137 of the constitution clearly and unequivocally prohibits the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Lithuania, without exception.

By Tamilla Hasanova