Finland, Lithuania Lift Nuclear Weapons Bans, Paving Way for Deployment; Russia Warns of Backfire

(CNA Vilnius, July 3, Comprehensive Foreign News) Finland and Lithuania, NATO member states bordering Russia, have recently lifted their domestic nuclear weapons bans citing deteriorating situations, to allow for the deployment of nuclear weapons within their territories if necessary. Russia stated that such actions by NATO's eastern members are counterproductive.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated on July 2 that the country's main political leaders have reached a consensus to abolish the constitutional prohibition on deploying nuclear weapons within the country. Earlier, the Finnish Parliament passed a bill in mid-to-late June to lift its long-standing nuclear weapons ban.

Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT reported that Nauseda told the media that Article 137 of the Lithuanian Constitution is "outdated" and "anachronistic." The government's top officials and parliament are almost unanimous in agreeing to revoke this provision rather than amend it, as it would be very regrettable if Lithuania became a weak link in NATO.

Article 137 of the Lithuanian Constitution prohibits the deployment of weapons of mass destruction on Lithuanian territory and the establishment of foreign military bases.

Nauseda said, "The geopolitical situation is continuously deteriorating, but the constitution was drafted in an era with a completely different geopolitical environment." He believes that abolishing this constitutional provision represents Lithuania's future flexibility in responding to the evolving security situation. However, he also emphasized that there are no immediate plans to store nuclear weapons domestically.

The Finnish Parliament amended the law on June 17 with a vote of 125 to 61, lifting the nuclear weapons ban established in the 1980s. The new law permits the "transport/transit/possible arrangement for deployment" of nuclear weapons within the country under the NATO framework, provided that nuclear weapons are for the defense of Finland or to assist NATO.

In June, the British "Financial Times" quoted sources as revealing that the United States is consulting with European allies on the deployment of new military equipment with nuclear projection capabilities. NATO's eastern members, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, are interested in having U.S. Air Force dual-capable aircraft (DCA) deployed at their domestic bases.

Former Russian President and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev confirmed on the 2nd that after Finland lifted its domestic nuclear weapons deployment ban, Russia has added Finland to its list of nuclear strike targets, stating that such actions by related countries to enhance their security will make them less secure.

Russia's official Sputnik news agency reported Medvedev as saying, "Finland has lifted the ban on deploying nuclear weapons within its territory. For the Finns, the upcoming change is that their country has now appeared on Russia's map of nuclear strike targets." (Compiled by Chen Yi-wei) 1150704

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