Lithuania Seeks Role in Western Nuclear Deterrence as It Moves to Lift Ban on Atomic Weapons

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Berlin : Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda said on Friday that his country wants to become part of the West's nuclear deterrence strategy against Russia and is moving to remove a constitutional ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons.

Speaking in Berlin, Nauseda said he had initiated a constitutional amendment to eliminate restrictions on the possible deployment of nuclear weapons in Lithuania, adding that the country wants to be "an integral part" of Western nuclear deterrence.

The proposed amendment has been submitted to parliament by a group of lawmakers, but any change to Lithuania's constitution would require approval by a two-thirds majority of parliament in two separate votes.

The move comes as several NATO countries on the alliance's eastern flank review their nuclear policies in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland recently voted to lift its ban on nuclear weapons, while Poland has expressed interest in joining NATO's nuclear-sharing arrangements.

Lithuania, which borders Russia and Belarus, has significantly increased defense spending since 2022 and hosts thousands of NATO troops as part of the alliance's efforts to strengthen its eastern defenses.

Pic Credit: AFP