Lithuania is engaged in discussions with the United States regarding the potential stationing of American nuclear weaponry on its territory to bolster deterrence against Russian aggression.
Lithuanian Minister of Defence Arvydas Anušauskas / Source: X/@robertas_kaunas
On Wednesday, June 3rd, in Vilnius, Lithuanian Minister of Defence Arvydas Anušauskas stated that the country is in talks with Washington concerning the prospective deployment of an American nuclear arsenal within its borders. Such a move is being considered at the national level as a strategic response to escalating tensions on NATO’s eastern flank and the imperative to deter Russia.
This was reported by Bloomberg.
Negotiations with Washington and Record Defence Spending
Currently, the Lithuanian constitution strictly prohibits the presence of any weapons of mass destruction on its soil. However, authorities have already initiated discussions on possible steps to bring this initiative to fruition. The head of the defence department declined to disclose specifics of the process due to its classified nature.
“Discussions are indeed underway. I prefer not to delve into details at this moment as they are confidential, but the conversations are ongoing, and Lithuania is certainly not standing aside,” emphasized Arvydas Anušauskas.
This year, the Lithuanian government plans to allocate a record 5.4 percent of its GDP to the defence sector, which is the highest proportion among all North Atlantic Alliance member states. The expansion of US nuclear presence in Europe, which Washington is considering, might involve the deployment of dual-capable aircraft, capable of executing missions utilizing nuclear warheads.
Putin Targets New Nations: Who is Under Threat of a New Attack
Concurrently with the nuclear discussions, other Baltic nations are also preparing for potential escalation, as a Russian attack on a NATO country could occur in the near future and even commence “tonight.” The Commander of the Latvian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Kaspars Pudāns, warned that Russia could leverage its technological advantage in mass drone production for an assault by the end of 2028, before large-scale European military modernization programs become fully effective.
According to the Latvian general, any direct conflict between Moscow and the Alliance would commence precisely in the three Baltic states, which are currently considered insufficiently protected. The Commander-in-Chief suggested that before launching a major armed offensive, the aggressor nation would most likely resort to hybrid attacks, sabotage, large-scale cyber operations, or disinformation campaigns.
Allied concerns regarding regional security have significantly heightened following an incident where a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in the Romanian city of Galați. As reported by Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminița Odobescu, this event will compel NATO countries to accelerate efforts to enhance surveillance systems, deploy radar, fighter jets, and state-of-the-art counter-drone technologies.
The Romanian diplomat emphasized that additional allied resources would include aircraft for air patrol and expanded radar coverage capable of tracking low-altitude targets. “There is a common understanding that we need to strengthen the eastern flank, and not just in Romania. This is a topic we are discussing with the Baltic states and all countries on the eastern flank,” explained Luminița Odobescu.
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