Кястутис Будрис. Скриншот видео
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys warned of the threat posed by Russia and Belarus and called for an open discussion of nuclear deterrence.
“I ask myself what my limits would be if I had to defend Lithuania. Honestly, I would recognize no limits, because that is exactly how we must defend ourselves,” the Lithuanian foreign minister said in an interview with the Polish news agency PAP.
According to Budrys, the nuclear issue should not be a taboo within NATO.
“NATO is also a nuclear alliance. We have a common nuclear and conventional policy, which means that nuclear means can be used when necessary to defend ourselves,” he said, positively assessing French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative to extend nuclear deterrence to European allies.
He added that France’s proposal is a valuable contribution to a necessary discussion.
“Another thing that tells me we must talk about this is the fact that Russian tactical nuclear forces are deployed in the Kaliningrad region and now also in Belarus, which happened after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” he said.
Budrys added that “everyone thinks we should remain silent and not talk about it.”
“Of course we must. These nuclear capabilities must be discussed in the context of operational planning — what we will do and what will be required to stop Russian forces,” he said.
In the Lithuanian foreign minister’s assessment, NATO countries on the eastern flank will need additional capabilities to counter the threat from the East.
“This should serve as a clear signal to Russia: if you come here, we will not defend ourselves exclusively on our own territory. We will kill you all. If the situation requires it, we will do so using the capabilities we have,” he said.
Budrys also confirmed Lithuania’s readiness to send troops to Ukraine as part of a coalition of willing countries in the event of a ceasefire. He also spoke about preparations for the deployment of a German brigade in Lithuania, which is expected to reach operational readiness in 2027.
Preparing infrastructure for the German military will cost Lithuania about €3 billion. The brigade will consist of five battalions, including tanks and artillery. Germany plans to station about 4,800 soldiers and around 200 civilian personnel in Lithuania, including soldiers’ families, due to the long rotation cycle.