Lithuania discusses deployment of US nuclear weapons on its territory

Lithuania is engaged in closed-door negotiations with the United States over the deployment of nuclear weapons on Lithuanian territory. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas confirmed this to Politico. The discussions also include consideration of constitutional amendments.

Lithuania is engaged in closed-door negotiations concerning the deployment of US nuclear weapons on Lithuanian territory. This was confirmed by Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas to the publication Politico.

The discussions have been conducted in closed format and their exact contents are not known to the public. The issue is particularly sensitive, as keeping nuclear weapons in the country may require constitutional amendments — Lithuania's current constitution imposes restrictions on this.

The deployment of nuclear weapons to the Baltic states has become pressing in connection with Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine and the overall deterioration of the security situation in Europe. NATO's eastern flank has in recent years strengthened military presence of allies, but an extension of nuclear deterrence policy to the Baltic states would be a significantly larger step.