Global
The Lithuanian Parliament, on Tuesday, approved a constitutional amendment that permits the deployment of nuclear weapons in the country, a move aimed at bolstering its deterrent and security capabilities. This amendment follows Vilnius's announced intent to lift the constitutional ban on storing such weapons, seeking to benefit from Western nuclear deterrence amidst the ongoing Russian assault on Ukraine. This decision also comes in the wake of previous Russian threats to direct its nuclear warheads towards Lithuania, should the Baltic Sea nation host any weapons from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) nuclear arsenals. It is probable that NATO's nuclear shield will expand to include other countries located near the Russian border. However, the current US administration might show reluctance in implementing such steps, given President Donald Trump's keenness to avoid appearing as someone who escalates militarily against Russia. This American stance is likely, in turn, to accelerate the development of joint European nuclear capabilities and their deployment in European Union countries, even outside the NATO umbrella.
