Lithuania possesses means to complicate Russia’s nuclear ambitions in Kaliningrad

As the BNS reported should Russia decide to deploy a nuclear weapon in its Kaliningrad enclave, Lithuania would have to block the eastern neighbour’s military transit through its territory, a Lithuanian political scientist has said.

The interview was conducted with the director of Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Raimundas Lopata.

The political scientist told the BNS that with regards to the reasoning afloat from Russia about potential deployment of a nuclear weapon in its Kaliningrad enclave – neighbouring Lithuania and Poland – that “such proposals coming from the experts of cold war are beyond all sensible limits”.

The BNS reminded that the chief of Russian Armed Forces’ Main Directorate for Combat Training and Service, Vladimir Shamanov mentioned on 30 January that the Defence Ministry, in view of US plans to create an anti-missile defence system (ADS) in Europe, plans to adjust the deployment of military blocs in Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave’s special district.

Furthermore, Leonid Ivasov, President of the Academy of Geopolitical Issues, appended this statement with a comment to Russia’s news agency Interfax, saying that should the US go through with its plans, Russia would deploy Iskander operational-tactical missile complexes (OTMC) and a tactical nuclear weapon in Kaliningrad to suit.

“If this was a fact, the Lithuanian state would have to respond accordingly, prepare for hazards and at least cut off military provisions to Kaliningrad, which currently have to pass through Lithuanian territory”, said Lopata in an interview to BNS, adding that it is still unknown whether the nuclear weapon that was previously deployed in Kaliningrad has in fact been lifted from there.

In the opinion of the political scientist, Russia’s decision to deploy a nuclear weapon in the enclave bordering with Lithuania and Poland would be a completely inadequate reaction on Russia’s part to US plans to deploy an anti-missile radar and a missile silo in Poland. Lopata notes that it is no secret that the US system is not pointed against Russia.

The political scientist remarked that Russia’s nuclear ambitions would not only be a challenge to Lithuania, but the entire region and strategic partners as well.

Lithuania states that the US quest to deploy elements of an anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic corresponds to its security interests.