Moscow – Russia: Deployment of a NATO base and nuclear weapons in Lithuania would raise tensions

MOSCOW, October 6 /ATSH-AA/ – The Kremlin said today that the possible deployment of a NATO military base or nuclear weapons in Lithuania would inevitably be seen by Russia as a step toward increasing tensions.

Commenting on the vote in Lithuania’s parliament to advance a constitutional amendment that would remove the ban on deploying nuclear weapons on the country’s territory, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a press briefing that this move cannot be seen as “anything other than a step toward escalating tensions”.

“None of these measures would contribute to stability and predictability on the European continent. On the contrary, and to our regret, they would mark another significant escalation of tensions,” Peskov said.

He added that Russia would consequently be forced to take “all necessary measures to guarantee its security”. The statements come after Lithuania’s Parliament voted today to advance a constitutional amendment that would remove the ban on deploying nuclear weapons on the country’s territory.

According to the public broadcaster LRT, the amendment was approved at first reading with 106 lawmakers voting in favour, while the final vote on the amendment is scheduled for January 12. Parliament held a vote on the amendment at the end of last month, at which the proposal received 99 votes in favour and 13 against, while five lawmakers abstained.

Peskov also commented on statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding reports of pneumonic plague cases in Russia, saying it is always good when mutual assistance is offered. He said Russia’s public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, is providing comprehensive information on the situation in the Irkutsk region of Siberia.

Last week, Russian media reported that Rospotrebnadzor had described the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region as stable, amid reports that a person had been diagnosed with “pneumonia of unknown etiology”.

According to the reports, measures had been taken in connection with the case, while the person who lost their life was an employee of the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute for Siberia and the Far East.