On Thursday, July 2, the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, announced an unprecedented decision: the country intends to completely remove the article from the Constitution that prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons. According to the head of state, there is "almost unanimous" support for this initiative among the leaders of parliamentary parties.

The end of the 'grey zone' within NATO

The issue concerns Article 137 of the Lithuanian Constitution, which historically prohibited the deployment of weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases on the territory of the republic. Nausėda stated that after consultations with faction leaders, it became obvious that this regulatory act is outdated and no longer corresponds to modern security realities.

"Opinions were almost unanimous. Almost all leaders of parliamentary factions expressed the opinion that Article 137 should not just be amended, but completely removed," the President emphasized in a conversation with journalists.

Lithuania, which joined the North Atlantic Alliance in 2004, no longer wishes to remain in the so-called "grey zone." Vilnius believes that maintaining a legislative ban makes the country an underdog within the military alliance, while threats from neighbors are growing.

Context of escalation and the example of Finland

Vilnius's interest in deploying American nuclear weapons on its territory is not accidental. It is viewed as a necessary means of deterring Russia. Against the backdrop of this initiative, a recent investigation by The Guardian has caused a stir, publishing data on a large-scale espionage operation by Moscow. According to journalists, for 18 months, Russia launched drones from ships of its "shadow fleet" to spy on strategic nuclear facilities in several European countries.

Lithuania is following a path that Finland has already begun to pave. At the end of June 2026, the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, officially signed amendments to the law on nuclear energy. This step legalized the import, transit, and storage of nuclear weapons on the territory of the country, integrating it into the NATO defense system. Now Vilnius is ready to take a similar step.

What happens next

It is expected that in the near future, the Seimas of Lithuania will begin the process of introducing the corresponding changes to the Basic Law. This decision radically changes the status quo in the Baltic region and testifies to the readiness of NATO countries to escalate security measures in response to Russia's actions.