The Lithuanian parliament took the first step toward removing the country’s constitutional prohibition on weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, and foreign military bases. The US currently stations nuclear weapons in several NATO states.

On Tuesday, the Lithuanian Seimas voted 106-18, with six abstentions, to repeal the constitutional provision prohibiting weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases. A second and final vote is expected on January 12.

Russia responded sharply to the vote. 

“If the military infrastructure of what is, in effect, ​NATO’s leading country (the US) is moving closer to our borders, then, of course, this cannot be perceived ⁠as anything other than a ⁠step towards escalating tensions.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.  “The same applies ​to the deployment of nuclear weapons on the territory of ​a neighbouring state. Neither of these developments will contribute ‌to stability and predictability on the European continent; on the contrary, they will, much to our regret, mark yet another significant escalation of tensions.”

The US has a nuclear-sharing program with NATO states. Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey are the five NATO countries that currently host US nuclear weapons. Additionally, the UK and France maintain their own nuclear arsenals.

The vote follows Moscow’s warning that an attempt by NATO to isolate the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad could trigger a nuclear response. Last week, Russia sent a document to NATO stating that it was prepared to use nuclear weapons if NATO countries attempted to cut Kaliningrad off from the rest of Russia.

Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, separated from the rest of Russia and bordered by NATO members Poland and Lithuania. The territory lies roughly 40 miles from Russian ally Belarus at the narrow Suwalki Gap.

Russia also issued statements from three of its European embassy accounts that included the threat to use nuclear weapons in response to the isolation of Kaliningrad. Kremlin ​spokesman Dmitry Peskov described ⁠the statements as reminders to the “hotheads in Europe.”

The constitutional amendment would also remove the prohibition on foreign military bases. Lithuania is currently seeking a permanent US military base and has offered to cover the costs of establishing one.