The poll was conducted by the pollster Spinter after earlier this year France proposed to strengthen Europe’s nuclear deterrence. Respondents were asked whether they would support constitutional amendments that would allow deploying nuclear weapons in Lithuania in case Lithuania joins the nuclear deterrence initiative.
Article 137 of the Constitution currently stipulates that weapons of mass destruction and military bases of foreign countries cannot be stationed in Lithuania.
It has transpired that 23% of the polled would strongly support such constitutional amendments, while 17% would likely support them.
19% said they would neither support nor oppose this.
Meanwhile, 13% of respondents would likely oppose the amendments, while 15% would strongly oppose them.
Another 13% of the polled did not have an opinion on the matter.
According to MP Laurynas Kasčiūnas, chairman of the TS-LKD, when this spring France raised the idea to extend its nuclear umbrella for other allies in Europe, the party decided to examine the public opinion in Lithuania on this matter.
Asked whether the party would take any initiative in this regard considering the results of the poll, the TS-LKD leader said this was the prerogative of the current Government.
However, Kasčiūnas added that if the current ruling coalition does not take any action and if the TS-LKD wins the 2028 parliamentary election, then the party would begin discussions on this issue. He added that measures would mostly involve joint exercises, whereas nuclear capable aircraft would be authorised to land in Lithuania or use its airspace.
Social Democratic MP Rimantas Sinkevičius, chairman of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence, notes that Lithuania is already protected by the United States nuclear umbrella, adding that the French initiative could be considered as well but it would be difficult to amend the Constitution.
The poll was carried out on 18–28 March. 1,013 respondents aged 18–75 were interviewed on the phone and online across the country.