The decision clears the way for Helsinki to receive, transport and facilitate the movement of nuclear weapons on its territory as part of allied defense operations.
Milena Wälde
The vote caps a years-long transformation in Finnish defense policy triggered by Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Finland subsequently joined NATO in 2023 and shares more than 1,300 kilometers of border with Russia. Earlier this year, Häkkänen argued that the country’s nuclear restrictions, dating back to 1980, no longer reflected the geopolitical realities facing a NATO member.
Security concerns have remained high. In May, Finnish authorities deployed fighter jets after a suspected drone entered the country’s airspace near Helsinki. President Alexander Stubb later said Finland faced “no direct military threat,” while military officials revealed they had received advance intelligence warning of the incident.
The nuclear vote comes as Helsinki also weighs closer participation in French President Emmanuel Macron’s plans for a broader European nuclear deterrent. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has signaled interest in cooperating with the initiative, but said Finland has yet to make a final decision.
