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The Kremlin warned Lithuania on Tuesday that it would take retaliatory measures if it authorizes the deployment of nuclear weapons, after the Baltic republic's parliament lifted the constitutional ban on the matter in a first reading today.
"As far as Russia is concerned, it will, of course, have to take the necessary measures to reliably ensure its own security," said Dmitry Peskov, the presidential spokesman, in his daily telephone press briefing.
Peskov emphasized that the former Soviet republic's decision "will not contribute to the stability and predictability of the situation on the European continent, but on the contrary, it will unfortunately mean a new significant escalation of tensions."
He also alluded to the possibility that the United States—the main country of NATO, he recalled—might build a military base in Lithuania, which "cannot be interpreted in any other way than as a step toward escalation."
"Just like the placement of nuclear weapons in the neighboring country," he stressed.
To eliminate the constitutional clause that prevents the deployment of nuclear weapons, the Lithuanian parliament will hold a second vote on January 12.
While Vilnius considers that the best deterrence mechanism is the NATO nuclear shield, the United States has shown itself willing to study the Lithuanian proposal to deploy a base in the territory of the country that borders the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.
However, President Gitanas Nauseda clarified that the authorization will not automatically translate into the placement of such weaponry, but will untie their hands to take urgent measures in case the security situation changes radically.
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The other two Baltic states—Latvia and Estonia—do not have explicit prohibitions on the stationing of allied nuclear weapons. Estonia stated last year that it would be willing to host British F-35 nuclear-capable fighter jets on its territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned last week that Moscow would use the entire arsenal at its disposal in the event of a direct attack against any of its regions, and particularly against Kaliningrad, after Russian diplomats denounced allied plans to blockade the Baltic enclave, a casus belli for Russia.
[Publicidad]