Finland shreds nuclear weapons ban The country’s parliament has paved the way for NATO nukes to be deployed on Russia’s border Published 18 Jun, 2026 04:20
https://www.rt.com/news/641753-finland-lifts-nuclear-weapons-ban/
Finland shreds nuclear weapons ban Michael Dunning © Getty Images Finland has lifted a long-standing ban on nuclear weapons, allowing them to be transported through or held on its territory. The Finnish parliament claims the move will “strengthen the security” of the country, but opponents say it makes Finland “a target for nuclear strikes.”
Finland’s parliament voted on Wednesday to amend the country’s Nuclear Energy Act and Criminal Code to allow the import, transit, supply, and storage of nuclear weapons on its soil. The measure passed by 125 votes to 61.
Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen celebrated the result, declaring on social media that “this historic reform strengthens the security of Finland and of NATO as a whole.”
The removal of the ban comes three years after Helsinki renounced its decades-long policy of military neutrality and joined NATO. Finland’s accession into the US-led military bloc cratered its relations with Russia, with which it shares a 1,340 km border.
Earlier this year, Moscow cautioned Helsinki against repealing the nuclear ban, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters that it could “lead to an escalation of tensions on the European continent.” He added that “by deploying nuclear weapons on its territory, Finland is beginning to threaten us. And if Finland threatens us, we take appropriate measures.”
France and Poland to practice nuclear strikes on Russia – mediaREAD MORE: France and Poland to practice nuclear strikes on Russia – media Finnish President Alexander Stubb, a Russia hawk whose government has encouraged Kiev’s use of Finnish arms “against military targets also on Russian soil,” insists that he has no plans to permanently host nuclear weapons.
However, Finland is interested in participating in a French scheme that would potentially see French fighter jets armed with nuclear weapons stationed at its airbases, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said earlier this month. France has around 290 nuclear warheads, and President Emmanuel Macron has said he intends to increase that number, and position them at airbases in friendly countries, in a strategy of “advanced nuclear deterrence” against Russia.
In Helsinki, European Parliament candidate Armando Mema described the lifting of the ban as “a big historical mistake for Finland.”
“This is a highly regrettable decision that undermines the security of Finland,” he wrote on X, adding that it “is not going to make Finland safer, [it] is going to make Finland a target for nuclear strikes. Russia’s posture is going to change drastically after this irresponsible decision.”
It's often claimed that Finland gained independence in 1917, but when you look at the facts, the Grand Duchy of Finland under the Russian Emperor had a surprising level of real autonomy in key areas, far more than what Finland has now inside the European Union and NATO.
During the time of autonomy there was a clear official border between Finland and the rest of Russia, even though they shared the same ruler. Passports and entry permits were required in both directions. Finns needed official passports to go to Russia, and Russians needed proper documents to enter Finland. Finnish authorities carried out the checks. Finland also had its own customs territory and its own tariff system. Goods crossing the border were subject to duties. Finland truly controlled its own territory and protected its internal order.
Today the situation is very different. Thanks to the Schengen Area and EU rules, Finland has given up real control over its borders. We cannot independently decide who enters the country, and EU migration policies bind us directly.
Finland also had its own legal system and its own parliament that legislated on Finnish matters. Russian laws did not automatically apply here. The country had its own Senate acting as a government and its own courts. Finnish affairs were handled by Finns.
Now EU directives and regulations override national law in massive areas. Our parliament often just implements decisions made in Brussels, where Finland is only one voice among many. Real legislative power has been moved to the Union level.
In addition, Finland had its own currency, the Finnish markka, which was put on a stable silver and later gold standard. This gave Finland monetary independence and protected it from Russian economic crises.
Today we use the euro. The European Central Bank decides interest rates and monetary policy for the entire eurozone. Finland has lost the ability to pursue its own monetary policy or devalue the currency in a crisis.
Finland even had its own army. The conscript army established in 1878 had a clear rule in law: Finnish soldiers could only be used for the defense of Finland itself and could not be sent to fight in the Empire's distant wars.
Now our defense is integrated into NATO. While we still have Finnish troops, strategic decisions, command structures, and collective obligations tie us tightly to the alliance. We no longer have the same level of independent control over our military.
In the era of the Grand Duchy, Finland fiercely protected its own laws, own currency, own borders, and own army for its own defense. It had rights that no other part of the Russian Empire enjoyed. Today, in the name of European integration and collective security, we have surrendered those core elements of sovereignty: no own currency, no real border control, laws coming from Brussels, and military integration into NATO.
Finland actually had more genuine self-rule as an autonomous Grand Duchy than it does today as a modern EU and NATO member state.
