Lithuania is in discussions with the United States over the potential deployment of American nuclear weapons on its territory, according to the country’s defense minister.
Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas confirmed that talks are underway, stressing that Lithuania is actively engaged in the broader NATO security debate. “Discussions are ongoing,” he said, adding separately that “Lithuania is certainly not standing on the sidelines.”
The negotiations come as Washington reviews its military footprint in Europe, including a possible reduction of troop deployments, raising concerns among some NATO allies about emerging security gaps on the alliance’s eastern flank.
Lithuania’s constitution currently prohibits the presence of weapons of mass destruction on its soil. However, President Gitanas Nausėda has previously suggested that constitutional amendments could be considered in light of evolving security conditions.
Reports citing Western media indicated that U.S. officials have been exploring the possibility of positioning nuclear warheads and strategic bombers in countries along NATO’s eastern border. At present, American nuclear weapons are known to be stationed in several European states, including Germany, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
