Lithuania Moves to Remove Constitutional Ban on Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Bases

Overview

• The Seimas voted to begin a constitutional amendment after a first reading that passed 106–18, a step that starts the three‑month procedure required before a final vote expected in January.
• The proposed change would strike Article 137, which now bars mass‑destruction weapons and foreign bases, and would remove a domestic legal obstacle to allied planning without automatically placing nuclear arms on Lithuanian soil.
• Vilnius is pressing for a permanent US military presence and has offered to cover costs, and President Trump has said the United States will “take a look” at the proposal.
• NATO and partner deployments are expanding in Lithuania with roughly 1,000 US troops on rotation and a planned 5,000‑strong German brigade, while earlier Pentagon moves to add forces were paused for review this year.
• The Kremlin has warned the move risks escalation, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov and President Putin issuing stern nuclear‑related comments, a reaction that raises the chance of political and military countermeasures and heightens local civil‑security planning.