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Lithuanian parliament backs removing constitutional ban on nuclear weapons

06 October 2026 12:54 (UTC +04:00)

Lithuania’s parliament voted Tuesday to advance a constitutional amendment that would remove a ban on weapons of mass destruction from the country’s constitution, potentially opening the way for allied nuclear weapons to be stationed in Lithuania, Lrt reports.

The amendment passed its first reading with 106 lawmakers voting in favour, 18 against and six abstaining.

A final vote cannot be held until at least three months after Tuesday’s vote. The amendment will require the support of at least 94 of the 141 members of the Seimas to pass. Parliament Speaker Juozas Olekas has said the final vote is scheduled for January 12.

Olekas said before the vote that removing the ban would strengthen Lithuania’s resilience and deterrence capabilities.

He said eliminating the restriction would also remove a legal distinction between Lithuania and other European Union and NATO countries.

Farid Akbarov

Lithuania Lithuanian parliament Seimas constitutional amendment weapons of mass destruction nuclear weapons Juozas Olekas NATO European Union defense deterrence security