Lithuania moves to lift nuclear weapon hosting ban

Lithuania's parliament gave initial backing on Tuesday to a constitutional amendment that would overhaul the country's ban on hosting nuclear weapons, despite Russian warnings.

Lawmakers supported the motion, but it must pass another parliamentary vote in the new year before taking effect.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas, quoted by Lithuanian outlets, said the debate was a response to Russia's aggression and linked it to Russia's war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has said it would aim nuclear weapons at Lithuania if the Baltic state allowed warheads on its territory. President Gitanas Nauseda said in July that Lithuania wanted to take part in Western nuclear deterrence against Russia.

Lithuania borders Belarus, where Russia has announced the deployment of nuclear missiles. In 2022, then defence minister Arvydas Anusauskas said Russia also had nuclear arms in Kaliningrad, which borders Lithuania to the southwest.