Finland to Lift Ban on Nuclear Weapons on its Territory

Finland plans to lift its long-standing ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons on its territory, the government announced. This move aligns with the policies of its Scandinavian neighbors and could allow for the deployment of nuclear weapons on Finnish soil in the event of war.

The 1987 Nuclear Energy Act prohibited the import, manufacture, possession, and detonation of nuclear explosives in Finland. Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen stated that the amendment is necessary to strengthen the country's military defence within the framework of NATO.

The proposed change will be put to a vote in parliament, where the coalition government holds a majority. Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have similar policies prohibiting the deployment of nuclear weapons in peacetime, but not in times of war.

Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, joined NATO in 2023. It has also signed a defence agreement with the United States, allowing the use of 15 of its military facilities.