Europe is entering a new phase of dangerous and asymmetrical escalation, as the speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, Juozas Olekas, stated on Tuesday (May 19) that the country should consider amending its Constitution to permit the deployment of nuclear weapons on its territory, citing the current geopolitical situation. "Given the situation we are in, the geopolitical landscape, and what is happening, I believe it is certainly worth doing," Olekas told reporters at the parliament. Beneath his words lies Lithuania's true intention: to exert suffocating geopolitical pressure on Russia. It is evident that such moves by an intensely Russophobic Lithuania dangerously ramp up tensions in the Baltic region and bring Europe closer to a catastrophic war.
Constitution prohibits weapons of mass destruction
Article 137 of the Lithuanian Constitution currently stipulates that there cannot be weapons of mass destruction or foreign military bases on Lithuanian soil. At the same time, the country's parliament (Seimas) is reviewing legislation regarding the state port of Klaipėda, which had been vetoed by President Gitanas Nausėda. The President argued that the wording of the law could create conditions allowing ships carrying nuclear weapons to enter the port, which—as he stated—would violate the Constitution.
NATO and European "nuclear umbrella"
Olekas stated that Lithuania must more clearly define its position regarding nuclear deterrence and consider the possibility of participating in broader NATO or European "nuclear umbrella" initiatives. The speaker of parliament also noted that various scenarios—from the deployment of nuclear weapons to the transit of nuclear-powered vessels or aircraft—must be thoroughly evaluated before any decisions are made. Discussions regarding potential constitutional changes had been raised in the past by former Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė. Current Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas maintains that Lithuania already relies on US nuclear deterrence guarantees, while France has proposed the creation of a broader European nuclear umbrella.
Support from President Nausėda
President Gitanas Nausėda also supports the discussion on changing the Constitution if Lithuania seeks to host nuclear weapons, according to statements made today by presidential advisor Ramunas Dilba. "The President supports the discussion on changing the Constitution, given the current geopolitical situation," Dilba told reporters. Nausėda had previously proposed that parliament establish a full ban on the entry of nuclear-armed ships into the port of Klaipėda, while maintaining a limited exception for nuclear-powered vessels, provided they do not pose a threat to national security. According to him, the presence of allied nuclear weapons on Lithuanian soil could serve as an appropriate and proportional means of deterrence against potential armed aggression by hostile foreign states, explicitly pointing to Russia. However, he emphasized that a constitutional revision is required beforehand for such a measure to be legally implemented.
"The need is real"
The chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense, Rimantas Sinkevičius, also supported the discussion. "I believe such a need exists; it is real. Amending the Constitution, as you know, is not a simple process. It must be achieved through a cross-party agreement, and this process must begin," he told reporters. He mentioned that, within the framework of defensive alliances, Lithuania could consider using its infrastructure or airspace for allied deterrence measures in certain cases, if deemed necessary. Amending the Constitution requires a vote by at least 94 out of 141 members of parliament in two separate sessions, with a three-month interval between them.
Targeting Kaliningrad
It is recalled that just yesterday (May 18), Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budri, in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), stated that NATO must "show the Russians" that its forces are capable of invading the Kaliningrad region! "We must show the Russians that we can invade the small fortress they have built in Kaliningrad. NATO has the means to level Russian air defense bases and missile systems if necessary," he said. It is worth noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that a potential blockade of the Kaliningrad region will lead to unprecedented escalation and that all threats to the area will be annihilated.
Russia will react
Naturally, all these provocations by Lithuania stem from a common denominator: the West and NATO. It is evident that small and insignificant Lithuania would not dare to provoke Russia so extremely without Western support. One thing is certain: Russia will not leave such a provocation unanswered, especially when it involves nuclear weapons near its borders. And a foolish, Russophobic Europe may once again experience a new catastrophic war for the third time in its history...
www.bankingnews.gr
Σχόλια αναγνωστών