РУССКИЙ
11:57 25.06.2026 •
On June 7, Finland reached a milestone in formalizing its further military nuclearization after parliament approved lifting the ban on the import of nuclear explosives. The government's initiative to amend the Nuclear Energy Act and the Criminal Code was supported by 125 legislators with 61 voting against and 13 not voting at all. [ii]
The proposal to involve the country in Western nuclear schemes, which are both unsafe and environmentally unfriendly, is politically divisive, with the opposition Social Democrats, the Greens and the Left Alliance, which has been particularly vocal in recent months, challenging the government's plans and accusing the ruling coalition of failure to achieve broad parliamentary consensus, which is normally done when making important foreign or security policy decisions. [iii]
Now, it is up to President Alexander Stubb, a staunch advocate of putting the country on nuclear alert within NATO, and of French President Emmanuel Macron's new idée fixe of expanding the French "nuclear umbrella" across Europe, to sign this act into law. The Finnish MPs are expected to approve already this fall Paris’ proposal to open their country's military airfields on a rotational basis to French Rafale multirole fighters, capable of carrying nuclear-tipped ASMPA missiles.
While the previously enacted ban on the import, production, storage, and detonation of nuclear explosives has been in place since 1987, the new legislative amendment opens a window for the import and transit of nuclear components "for the purpose of ensuring Finland's national defense, the Alliance's collective security, or within the framework of relevant international cooperation." It does contain a provision, however, that Finland will not permanently deploy nuclear weapons on its territory during peacetime.
What could this mean in practice? Experts say that in addition to opening the country's ports and airbases to US and British submarines and strategic aircraft, and participating in nuclear exercises near Russia's borders, "Finland will become a full member of NATO's Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) and will have a voice in the development of doctrine for the use of forces of mass destruction. Until now, Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen has participated in NPG meetings as an observer." What Finland’s "voice" may look like in the event of an escalation is anyone’s guess.
The Finnish Air Force will also be able to participate in the SNOWCAT program missions to escort and cover NATO missile carriers: “Finnish F-35 fighter pilots will be trained to assist their alliance allies in using US nuclear arsenals stored in Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Turkey.” [iv]
Despite Finnish assurances that this act of unprovoked confrontation with Russia does not violate the country’s commitments (including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty), and merely brings Finland’s position in line with its Nordic neighbors - Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (where there is no ban on nuclear weapons transfers) – this is clearly fraught with seriously undermining the existing balance of power in the region, with corresponding risks for the Finns themselves during the special period.
The Finnish parliament's Defense Committee thus explained the rationale behind its decision to amend the existing Nuclear Energy Act: national legislation should not unnecessarily restrict the freedom of action of NATO forces, and no legal obstacles should hinder the work of the Alliance, which "has done more to develop nuclear weapons-related planning in the last three to four years than in the entire post-Cold War period." [v] Despite the soothing remarks about the merely theoretical capabilities of deploying US or French nuclear weapons in this Nordic country, the document contains a telling caveat: "Due to the logic of NATO deterrence, it is inappropriate to discuss nuclear weapons policy in too much detail publicly... Maintaining freedom of action is a key part of credible deterrence and room for maneuver in Finland's security policy." However, this only raises the stakes in a dangerous geopolitical game, which gives the Finns the illusion of being "players too," and not just another greasy card, like the Balts.
One can only wonder how Finland's ruling politicians and mainstream media have managed to instill the "nuclear idea" in the minds of the country's supposedly peaceful population. In March 2026, when the idea of possible amendments was officially pitched, a Verian poll showed that 49 percent of Finns opposed the deployment of nuclear weapons in their country, 31 percent welcomed the idea and 20 percent were undecided. [vi] According to recent data from the EVA Business Analysis Center, only 13 percent of Finns now favor a complete renunciation of nuclear deterrence. A hefty 70 percent support some form of nuclear deterrence (a pan-European nuclear umbrella – 29 percent, the current NATO "deterrence" – 27 percent, a pan-Nordic one – under 10 percent, Finland's own nuclear weapons - just five percent, and 17 percent are undecided). [vii]
In the overall context of Finland's present militaristic frenzy we can see that since 2024, Helsinki has been rapidly catching up with the most Russophobic NATO hawks in terms of declared targets, investments, and military muscle building. For example, in a recent social media post, Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said he was ready to actively lobby for support for Ukraine during the July 7-8 NATO summit in Ankara, and urge all allies not to shy away from jacking up their military spending to five percent GDP.
In June of this year, Finland’s parliamentary defense committee proposed nearly doubling the country’s military budget by the end of the decade. Defense spending is set to go up from 7.7 billion euros this year to over 14 billion by 2029, and remain at around 15 billion until 2036. [viii] The discussion about ramping up Finland’s military outlays comes amid weak economic growth, social spending cuts, and a growing debt burden on public finances (Finland's public debt is projected to exceed 90 percent of GDP by 2026, and the EU has already started disciplinary steps against Finland for running an excessive budget deficit, and demands that it address the situation.)
At the same time, Finland is not only actively utilizing military budgets and rearming, but is also equipping its partners. According to the country’s Defense Ministry, Finnish military exports more than tripled in 2025, reaching about 702 million euros, with the value of permanent export and transit licenses issued totaling 930 million. [ix] This does not include the military aid Finland provided to the Kyiv regime. With the latest tranche, the overall volume of this military assistance provided since 2022 is about 3.4 billion euros. [x]
Combined with Suomi's integration into the provocative and dangerous schemes of Western nuclear powers, tensions along the 1,271.8 km land and 54.0 km maritime border with Russia will inevitably escalate, and the potentially fatal decisions will be made many thousands of kilometers from Helsinki, which bodes ill for the Finns themselves.
The views of the author may differ from the position of the Editorial Board.
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[i] This publication was prepared in accordance with the implementation of the state assignment on the topic "Comprehensive studies of processes in the countries of the post-Soviet space, Central and Eastern Europe," scientific topic code FSZG - 2024-0006.
[ii] Täysistunto 17.6.2026 klo 14 https://verkkolahetys.eduskunta.fi/fi/taysistunnot/taysistunto-69-2026
[iii] Finland Lifts Nuclear Weapons Ban as Security Risks Grow https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-17/finland-lifts-nuclear-weapons-ban-as-security-risks-grow
[iv] Finland reaching for nuclear umbrella https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8741262?from=glavnoe_3
[v] See.: https://www.eduskunta.fi/asiat-ja-aanestykset/valtiopaivaasiat/asiakirjat/edktunnus/EDK-2026-AK-34335
[vi] The survey reflected the Finns’ opinion about nuclear weapons deployment. Helsingin Sanomat: half of Finns are against the deployment of nuclear weapons https://ria.ru/20260311/opros-2080005419.html
[vii] The majority of Finns want their country under a “nuclear umbrella,” but no Finnish nukes https://t.me/suomifinka/1328
[viii] Euractiv: Finland mulling an almost 100 percent increase in defense spending https://tass.ru/ekonomika/27757071
[ix] Finnish military exports reached a record high last year https://yle.fi/a/74-20231687
[x] Finland Sends New Defense Package to Ukraine https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/finland-sends-new-defence-package-to-ukraine
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