Finland decides to abandon ban on placement of nuclear weapons on its territory - media

Finland intends to repeal the ban on the import and transit of nuclear weapons, as well as their storage on its territory, which has been in force since the 1980s.

This was stated by the country's Defense Minister Antti Häkkinen during a press conference, Politico reports.

According to the head of the department, the current bans have lost their relevance in the current conditions and do not correspond to Finland's status as a NATO member.

The minister emphasized that the transportation of nuclear munitions will be allowed exclusively for the purpose of defending the country, refusing to disclose specific scenarios. At the same time, Häkkinen noted that Helsinki does not seek the permanent placement of nuclear weapons on its territory - this would require a separate intergovernmental agreement that would have to go through the country's parliament and leadership.

To implement the changes, amendments to the Criminal Code and the Nuclear Energy Law are necessary. The government expects to adopt them by the end of the summer, having previously provided the deputies with classified materials, Yle writes.

The Kremlin has already reacted to Finland's plans. The press secretary of the russian president, Dmitry Peskov, said that the deployment of nuclear weapons on Finnish territory would be regarded as a direct threat to which Moscow would take measures in response.

"These are statements that lead to an escalation of tensions on the European continent. These are statements that add to Finland's vulnerability," he said.

Finland joined NATO in the spring of 2023, abandoning years of neutrality after vladimir putin started a full-scale war in Ukraine. This doubled the length of NATO's border with russia - by more than 1,300 kilometers. Sweden became a member of the alliance after Finland (in the spring of 2024).

At the same time, putin, who initially explained the attack on Ukraine by the need to prevent NATO expansion, after the submission of applications by Helsinki and Stockholm stated that Moscow does not consider their entry into the alliance as a serious threat.

"They want it - please," he said.

Finland's statement came against the backdrop of increased nuclear rhetoric in Europe. In early March, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to increase the number of nuclear warheads in the country's arsenal.

Speaking at the nuclear submarine base, he called for "strengthening" the element of deterrence and announced the expansion of nuclear cooperation with allies, including Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Sweden, the Netherlands and Poland.