Latest news in Lithuania? September 11th, 2026
11-09-2026
- Constitutional Debate on Defense and Nuclear Deployment: Following a 7–2 committee vote in the Seimas advancing an amendment to lift Article 137 of the Lithuanian Constitution (which currently bans foreign military bases and weapons of mass destruction), Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov issued a direct warning on September 11, claiming Lithuania could become a target if foreign nuclear capabilities are hosted on its soil. Lithuanian officials emphasize that removing the constitutional restriction is aimed at defense flexibility within NATO and does not represent immediate plans to deploy nuclear weapons. ConstitutionNet+ 1
- Preparations for “Thunder of Perkūnas” Maneuvers: The Lithuanian Armed Forces announced readiness for the large-scale military exercises “Thunder of Perkūnas,” scheduled to begin on September 17 and run through mid-October. The maneuvers will mobilize thousands of soldiers, reservists, and territorial defense volunteers across the country to drill national readiness and joint civil-military coordination. news.by
- Diplomatic and EU Priorities: The Lithuanian Ministry of Finance and diplomatic leadership laid out core policy focuses ahead of high-level European meetings, emphasizing long-term financial assistance framework extensions for Ukraine, capital market integration (Savings and Investment Union), and upcoming EU budget resource negotiations.