Finland Lifts Ban on Import and Transit of Nuclear Weapons

According to the Finnish Parliament's website, President Alexander Stubb has signed an amendment to the Nuclear Energy Act that, effective 1 July, lifts the long-standing ban on the import and transit of nuclear weapons through the country's territory. This move, which was previously approved by parliament by a vote of 125 to 61, represents a major shift in the country's security policy.

The nuclear arsenals of NATO allies could thus potentially move closer to the Russian border, with which Finland shares more than 1,300 km. Helsinki has clarified, however, that the price of this change will not be the permanent deployment of nuclear warheads on its territory. The law is primarily intended to allow for the receipt, transport and support of the movement of these weapons as part of joint Alliance operations.

Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen has previously described the legislative change as a historic step that strengthens the security of both Finland and the entire NATO alliance. According to him, the original restrictions from 1980 ceased to make sense after the country officially joined the North Atlantic Alliance in 2023 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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