European defense moves Nuclear votes and missiles

Mar 2

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.

CCTV recalls Macron's March offer of forward nuclear deterrence: partners could join deterrence exercises and strategic forces could be deployed in allied countries in some circumstances. It reports French statements of interest from Germany, Poland and others, and attributes increased interest to press assessments of uncertain U.S. protection. A separate CCTV brief recalls an undated Russian warning about countries hosting such deployments. These are offers, interest and warnings, without a completed allied deployment.