MEDVEDEV THREATENS LITHUANIA WITH DISAPPEARANCE IF NATO NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARE DEPLOYED
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has threatened that Lithuania could “disappear from the map of the world” if NATO nuclear weapons were stationed there.
Speaking on September 11, Medvedev warned that Moscow would retaliate against any deployment of NATO nuclear weapons in Lithuania. He also claimed that NATO would be unwilling to invoke Article 5 to defend Lithuania because a confrontation with Russia could lead to a “global, planetary catastrophe.”
The remarks came after Lithuania moved toward removing its constitutional prohibition on nuclear weapons. However, Lithuania has not agreed to host nuclear weapons, and the proposed changes would allow the country to retain greater flexibility in its defense policy.
Lithuania borders Russia’s heavily militarized Kaliningrad region and Belarus, where Russia has stationed nuclear weapons.
Medvedev’s comments have further highlighted tensions between Moscow and NATO over European security and the alliance’s collective-defense commitments.