Lithuania's political leaders have agreed to begin the process of removing a constitutional provision that prohibits the deployment of nuclear weapons on the country's territory, President
Gitanas Nausėda announced on Thursday, citing a rapidly changing security environment in Europe.
According to Nausėda, the agreement reflects growing concern over regional security challenges and the need to ensure Lithuania has the flexibility to respond to future threats.
"Our Constitution was drafted under very different geopolitical circumstances," the president said. "Today, the security environment has changed significantly, and we must be prepared for every scenario."
The proposed constitutional amendment does not mean Lithuania plans to host nuclear weapons in the near future. Nausėda stressed that there are currently no discussions or concrete plans to deploy nuclear arms on Lithuanian soil. Instead, the move is intended to remove legal restrictions that could limit the country's strategic options should the regional security situation deteriorate further.
Any amendment to Lithuania's Constitution would require parliamentary approval under the country's constitutional procedures before taking effect.
Lithuania's nuclear energy ambitions
While Lithuania does not possess nuclear weapons, nuclear technology has long played an important role in the country's energy sector. The country previously operated the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, which housed Soviet-designed RBMK reactors similar to those used at Chernobyl. As part of Lithuania's commitments upon joining the European Union, the plant's reactors were permanently shut down in 2004 and 2009.
Since then, Lithuania has become more dependent on electricity imports while pursuing greater energy independence. Successive governments have explored options for developing new nuclear capacity, including discussions about modern small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of the country's long-term clean energy strategy. Although no final investment decision has been made, nuclear power remains one of several technologies under consideration alongside renewable energy expansion and strengthened regional electricity connections.
The renewed debate over constitutional restrictions on nuclear weapons comes as Lithuania, a NATO member bordering Russia's Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, continues to increase defense spending and deepen security cooperation with its allies in response to heightened tensions in the region. Photo by Augustas Didžgalvis, Wikimedia commons.
