Finland Proposes Lifting Nuclear Weapons Ban to Strengthen NATO Defense

Finland has proposed lifting its ban on nuclear weapons to strengthen defense and better align with NATO’s deterrence strategy. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen arrives ahead of the summit of the Baltic Sea NATO countries at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, on January 14, 2025.(Photo by Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Finland has proposed sweeping legal changes that would allow the import, transportation, and storage of nuclear weapons, marking a significant shift in its defense policy following NATO membership. The proposal, submitted by the government to parliament, includes amendments to the country’s Atomic Energy Act and criminal code, according to Finland’s defense ministry. The changes would remove longstanding legal restrictions on handling nuclear weapons within Finnish territory. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said the initiative is aimed at strengthening national security amid an increasingly unpredictable security environment. “The proposal aims to maximize Finland’s security in an unpredictable operating environment. By removing the legal barriers on nuclear devices, we can strengthen our deterrence and defense and raise the threshold for using military force against Finland and the Alliance. The legislative amendment is necessary for the security of Finland,” Häkkänen said. The goal is to remove legal barriers to enhance Finland’s defense capabilities and enable fuller use of NATO’s collective defense mechanisms, the ministry said. Officials said allowing nuclear-related operations would improve deterrence and reduce the likelihood of military aggression against Finland and the alliance. The proposed changes would also enable NATO aircraft carrying nuclear weapons to operate in Finnish airspace and allow related military cargo to transit the country. Other Topics of Interest Ankara Summit May Put Zelensky, Ukraine Back at Center of NATO Talks Veteran Turkish diplomat Ümit Yardım says Ukraine will be one of the main topics at NATO’s July summit in Ankara, alongside the Middle East crisis, and questions over the US role in the alliance. Finland’s current legislation strictly prohibits any activity involving nuclear weapons — rules dating back to the 1980s, when the country sought to avoid entanglement in Cold War nuclear tensions with the Soviet Union. However, since joining NATO, the restrictions have complicated joint planning and military exercises with allies, prompting calls for reform. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.