Finland has removed a ban on nuclear weapons as tensions with Russia continue to soar. The Parliament has approved amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act and the Criminal Code, which prohibits the import, manufacture, possession and detonation of nuclear explosives.
After the vote, 125-61 in favour of the reforms, nuclear explosives will be regulated only in the Criminal Code. This will determine which nuclear weapons can be imported into Finland, for example, if they’re needed for the country’s military, NATO, or defence cooperation.
Before the vote, the country’s Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen made an appeal to MPs to vote in favour of the new legislation, which he said was essential for national security.
He wrote on X: “With this proposal, we will strengthen Finland’s defense and enable the full utilization of NATO’s nuclear deterrence as protection for Finland.
“By dismantling the Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives, we are aligning our legislation with that of our closest NATO allies.”
It comes amid fears of military action following allegations from Moscow that Finland has allowed its airspace to be used by Ukrainian drones to attack Russian oil ports.
He alleged: “Recently, there have been increasingly frequent cases of attacks by Ukrainian drones on Russia via Finland and the Baltic states. As a result, civilians suffer, and significant damage is caused to civilian infrastructure.”
Either western air defences were “highly ineffective… or the states in question are deliberately providing their airspace, that is, acting as direct accomplices in aggression against Russia”.
He insisted: “In the latter case, in accordance with international law, Article 51 of the UN Charter on the inherent right of states to self-defence in the event of an armed assault comes into force.”
