March 7, Pozirk. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys urged NATO to state unequivocally that it will use its nuclear capabilities in response to a potential attack from Belarus or Russia on its members.
“It should be a clear signal to Russia: if you come here, we will not defend only on our soil. We will annihilate you all. If the situation requires, we will do it with the capabilities we have,” he told PAP.
Budrys also noted that a German brigade stationed in Lithuania should achieve operational readiness by 2027. Creating infrastructure for German troops is a €3-billion strategic project for Lithuania, he said. The 5,000-strong brigade will comprise five battalions, including main battle tanks and artillery.
French President Emmanuel Macron in early March proposed a plan to expand France’s nuclear protection to other countries. His nuclear umbrella program has been backed by Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the UK.
In December 2024, Minsk and Moscow signed a treaty on security guarantees that authorizes Russia to use its nuclear weapons to defend “sovereignty, independence and the constitutional system” of the two countries.
Moscow and Minsk have repeatedly said that Russia deployed its tactical nuclear munitions in Belarus.
