Finland’s government plans to remove a legal ban that blocks nuclear weapons from entering the country. The proposal links the change to national defence and cooperation with NATO allies.
The plan forms part of amendments to Finland’s Nuclear Energy Act. Defence minister Antti Häkkänen announced the proposal at a press briefing in Helsinki on Thursday evening.
The current law from the 1980s bans the import, possession, manufacture and detonation of nuclear explosives on Finnish territory.
The government now seeks to remove those restrictions from the nuclear energy law and place rules on nuclear explosives under the criminal code. The revised system would still ban Finland from producing, developing or detonating nuclear weapons.
The change would permit the import, transport or possession of a nuclear explosive in Finland if the act relates to military defence or cooperation with NATO. The government states that Finland does not seek nuclear weapons for its territory.
Defence minister Häkkänen said the reform responds to the country’s security environment after Finland joined NATO. “The legislation does not match the needs Finland has as a NATO member,” Häkkänen said during the briefing. “The goal is to ensure full protection for Finland in all situations.”
He stressed that the proposal does not mean nuclear weapons will be stationed in the country.
Permanent deployment would require a separate international treaty and approval by parliament and the Finnish state leadership.
The reform would also allow nuclear weapons to pass through Finnish territory in certain circumstances.
The minister repeated that Finland does not aim to host nuclear weapons and that NATO exercises in Finland do not involve real nuclear warheads.
Government officials state that the change seeks to align Finnish law with common practice among NATO states. Absolute bans similar to Finland’s current legislation are rare in the alliance.
The United States maintains nuclear weapons in several European NATO countries, including Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Turkey. France and the United Kingdom hold their own nuclear arsenals.
France recently signalled plans to expand nuclear cooperation with certain allies. Finnish officials state that the current law proposal does not link to that initiative.
Prime minister Petteri Orpo leads the coalition government behind the reform plan. The government states that defence authorities recommended the legal change.
The proposal has triggered criticism from opposition parties.
Social Democratic Party lawmaker Johan Kvarnström described the policy as irresponsible in a statement.
“This marks a sad chapter in Finland’s security policy history,” Kvarnström said. He also criticised the government’s handling of the process.
Opposition figures state that parliament received limited information before the public announcement. Leaders of parliamentary groups and party chairs received a briefing one day before the announcement. Foreign affairs and defence committees received information shortly before the press conference.
Left Alliance leader Minja Koskela and Social Democratic foreign affairs committee chair Johannes Koskinen both criticised the lack of earlier consultation.
Häkkänen defended the approach stating that the matter involves classified information and sensitive defence policy. “The issue is not ideological,” Häkkänen said. “The proposal follows assessments by defence experts.”
The minister added that parliament will receive security classified material related to the proposal during the legislative process.
HT