Vytautas Bruveris: Lithuania Is Sending A Message
- 6.10.2026, 16:30
Vilnius is prepared to host nuclear weapons.
The Lithuanian Seimas, in its first reading, approved a constitutional amendment that lifts the ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons on the country’s territory. 106 lawmakers voted in favor of the decision; the final vote may take place in January.
What does this decision mean for Lithuania and the strengthening of its defense capabilities? Could nuclear weapons actually be deployed in Lithuania to deter Russia? The website Charter97.org discussed this with renowned Lithuanian journalist and political commentator, and head of the Arch Frontline think tank Vitautas Bruveris.
— If we’re talking specifically about strengthening defense capabilities, the significance here is minimal. There is essentially no direct effect. We understand that, in the foreseeable future, the likelihood of nuclear missiles, warheads, a base, or anything similar actually being deployed in Lithuania is still low.
Moreover, it’s unclear—even if something could theoretically be deployed—whose it would be exactly. There are purely technical and military issues here, which, of course, are tied to broader geopolitics.
And this is where we move on to the geopolitical aspect. It is a political stance, a demonstration of political will. Lithuania is lifting the ban and showing that, if necessary, it is both capable and willing to host nuclear weapons, because it understands that this is the most extreme—but also the most effective—method of deterring Russia and Russian aggression. That is precisely what this is about. It is, among other things, a response to Russia’s games and its brandishing of nuclear missiles. Nuclear blackmail is constantly underway and only intensifying—now coming directly from Putin’s own mouth. Belarus is also drawn into these games with all sorts of maneuvers and the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons—it’s not entirely clear whether this is real or semi-real—as well as the advance of Russian nuclear weapons toward NATO’s borders.
Lithuania is showing that it won’t be intimidated by this posturing. If the West as a whole decides to take such a step, it is ready to move in that direction alongside the West. In essence, that is the most important thing right now.
— Trump stated that the U.S. will consider the possibility of establishing a military base in Lithuania. How realistic is such a scenario?
— There was a specific situation here. A correspondent for Lithuanian Radio and Television is actively working in the United States. This is the second time he’s had the opportunity to ask Trump a question on the White House lawn, where correspondents are allowed to approach the president, and Trump answers.
And so our correspondent asked: if there can be a military base in Poland, then maybe one in Lithuania as well? Trump said, “Yes, Lithuanians are good people; I know that tribe—I like those distant natives.” I’m exaggerating a bit here.
My take on this situation is this: it’s not serious. Trump just blurted it out—that’s all. Here, of course, all the major news outlets are celebrating the fact that Trump himself said this about Lithuania. There’s a provincial aspect to this. In essence, there’s even less substance to this than in the parliamentary vote on amending the Constitution.
And one last thing, just to make my position clear: I don’t trust Trump. After his betrayal of Ukraine and given what he’s been doing in that regard, of course, you can’t trust a single word he says about our shared region.