European defense moves Nuclear votes and missiles

Oct 6

CCTV reports Lithuania's October 6 first constitutional-amendment vote supporting removal of its nuclear-deployment prohibition, expressly saying a second vote is still required. It quotes the parliament's NATO rationale and Peskov's warning of instability and necessary Russian security measures. The same report says Macron announced an October 6 successful first M51-3 launch from a strategic submarine; French media say it carried no nuclear warhead. It recalls his March forward-deterrence proposal and Russia's warning about potential host countries. Separately it reports Sweden's October 6 decision to send Patriot air defense to a NATO logistics base in Poland supporting Ukraine, with the operation planned for December. Neither a completed Lithuanian amendment nor an already completed Swedish deployment is established.

Emmanuel Macron witnessed an initial intercontinental-missile test from a nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine off Finistère on October 6. France 2 presents the Élysée-released image as affirming nuclear deterrence's place in French defense. Its brief announcement does not identify a warhead, operational target or further test outcome. CCTV's October 7 report says Macron announced a successful first M51-3 launch from a strategic submarine on October 6. It attributes the absence of a nuclear warhead to French media. These details supplement France 2's direct Élysée-image account; neither report establishes a nuclear detonation or a specific operational target.