Lithuania’s Parliament approved the first vote to remove the constitutional ban on nuclear weapons

Lithuania’s Parliament voted in Vilnius on Tuesday in favor of lifting the constitutional ban on nuclear weapons, in the first stage of legislative reform adopted against the backdrop of deteriorating security in the region and the threat posed by Russia.

The proposal was supported by 106 of the 141 lawmakers. Two votes, each requiring a two-thirds majority, are needed to amend the Constitution. The second vote is scheduled for January 12, 2027.

The ban was introduced more than three decades ago, after Lithuania broke away from the Soviet Union. Lifting it does not mean that nuclear weapons will immediately be stored on the country’s territory. President Gitanas Nauseda said there were no such plans, but removing the provision would allow the authorities to take additional measures if developments in the security situation made this necessary.

Nauseda said Lithuania would remain a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The decision reflects a reassessment of the defense policies of states in the region, amid strategic changes driven by Russia.