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Finland moves to allow nuclear weapons on its soil
Finland's government has proposed lifting a decades-old ban on nuclear weapons within its borders, a step Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen says will strengthen the country's integration into Nato's deterrence strategy.
Security shift after Ukraine invasion
Häkkänen told reporters on Thursday that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 had "fundamentally and significantly" altered Finland's security landscape. The Nordic nation joined Nato in April 2023, ending a long-standing policy of military neutrality.
Under the current 1987 Nuclear Energy Act, importing, manufacturing, possessing, or detonating nuclear explosives is prohibited in Finland, even during wartime. The proposed amendment would permit the transport, storage, or deployment of nuclear weapons if tied to Finland's military defence as part of the alliance.
Legal changes required
The government's plan involves revisions to both the Nuclear Energy Act and Finland's criminal code. The right-wing coalition, which holds a parliamentary majority, has opened a consultation period until 2 April before formally introducing the legislation.
"The amendment is necessary to enable Finland's military defence as part of the alliance and to take full advantage of Nato's deterrence and collective defence,"
Antti Häkkänen, Finnish Defence Minister
Nato's nuclear deterrence strategy
Nato's collective defence principle-where an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all-forms the backbone of its nuclear deterrence policy. The alliance includes multiple nuclear powers, meaning any direct assault on a member risks triggering a nuclear response. The U.S. currently stations nuclear weapons in several European nations, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
Geopolitical context
Finland shares a 1,340-kilometre (832-mile) border with Russia, the longest of any EU or Nato member. Since joining the alliance, Finland has warned of a deteriorating security environment, prompting Nato to bolster its presence in the Arctic, Baltic Sea, and along its expanded eastern flank.
Sweden, which joined Nato in 2024, has also signalled a shift in its defence posture. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated last week that Sweden's long-standing policy against hosting foreign troops or nuclear weapons "would not apply" in a drastically altered security scenario.
Broader European defence trends
The proposal aligns with a broader push among European nations to enhance defence cooperation amid the war in Ukraine and rising global instability. Last year, drone sightings over airports and military bases in several Nato states disrupted air traffic, with some officials attributing the incidents to Russian "hybrid warfare." Moscow denied involvement.
On Monday, France and Germany announced plans to deepen collaboration with European partners on nuclear deterrence, reflecting growing concerns about regional security.
