The Finnish government has proposed scrapping the current ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons on the country’s territory, the Defense Ministry said. The initiative has already been submitted to parliament for consideration.
The ministry said the move is aimed at removing legal restrictions related to nuclear devices in order to ensure that Finland can “defend its territory within the framework of the Alliance and make full use of NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities.” The statement adds that such a step would allow the country to take part in collective defense and, if necessary, carry it out in full.
The ban on deploying nuclear weapons was enshrined in a 1987 law and was one element of Finland’s policy of neutrality. After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country revised its security strategy and joined NATO in 2023.