The new rules in Finland will permit the deployment of NATO nuclear weapons on Russia’s doorstep
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has signed amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act allowing nuclear weapons to be deployed on the country’s territory. The Nordic nation’s parliament supported lifting the long-standing ban earlier this month.
The removal 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 has led to serious tensions with Russia, with which it shares a 1,340 km border.
“The president of the republic approved the proposal,” according to the Finnish government website on Friday. It also said the new norms would come into force on July 1. Under the new rules, Finland will be able to import, transit, supply, and store nuclear weapons.
Earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO. The amendments “enable the full utilization of NATO’s nuclear deterrence,” he said ahead of the parliamentary vote, while blasting parties opposed to the change as relying on the “erroneous” views “of a few so-called peace defenders.”
Stubb, a known Russia hawk, signed the amendments into law just a day after he stated he was “realistically optimistic” about the outcome of the Ukraine conflict in an interview with Politico, while still talking about the “strategic failure” of Russia.
Moscow cautioned Helsinki earlier this year 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 [will] take appropriate measures.”
Russia has also described Finland’s decision as “concentrated confrontation,” with Moscow’s embassy in Helsinki warning that even a “theoretical” possibility of nuclear weapons appearing on Finnish soil will be noted by Russian military planners.
On Wednesday, Moscow’s permanent representative at the UN office in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, warned that Russia would treat nuclear weapons on its borders, whether in Finland or Poland, “as a direct threat warranting compensational countermeasures.”
“Will it increase the security of the relevant [NATO] nations? I really doubt it,” the diplomat told RIA Novosti.
15 thoughts on “Nordic nation allows nukes deployment”
Considering earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
When you look at earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO, the implications are hard to ignore.
The bigger issue here is earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO. That changes the calculation.
Considering the new rules in Finland will permit the deployment of NATO nuclear weapons on Russia’s, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
The bigger issue here is finnish President Alexander Stubb has signed amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act allowing nuclear weapons to be deployed on the country’s territory. That changes the calculation.
Considering the removal comes three years after Helsinki renounced its decades-long policy of military neutrality and joined NATO, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
Earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO. Meanwhile the new rules in Finland will permit the deployment of NATO nuclear weapons on Russia’s.
If earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
Basically finnish President Alexander Stubb has signed amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act allowing nuclear weapons to be deployed on the country’s territory. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
Reading that earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO — hard to argue with the logic there.
Considering earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
When you look at earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO, the implications are hard to ignore.
The detail about the new rules in Finland will permit the deployment of NATO nuclear weapons on Russia’s is something people should sit with.
The bigger issue here is earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO. That changes the calculation.
Considering the new rules in Finland will permit the deployment of NATO nuclear weapons on Russia’s, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
The bigger issue here is finnish President Alexander Stubb has signed amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act allowing nuclear weapons to be deployed on the country’s territory. That changes the calculation.
Still waiting to hear what Nuclear Energy actually plans to do about it.
Considering the removal comes three years after Helsinki renounced its decades-long policy of military neutrality and joined NATO, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
Earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO. Meanwhile the new rules in Finland will permit the deployment of NATO nuclear weapons on Russia’s.
Nuclear Energy is in a tough spot here, curious how they navigate it.
If earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
The fact that the new rules in Finland will permit the deployment of NATO nuclear weapons on Russia’s really puts things into perspective.
Basically finnish President Alexander Stubb has signed amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act allowing nuclear weapons to be deployed on the country’s territory. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
Reading that the new rules in Finland will permit the deployment of NATO nuclear weapons on Russia’s — hard to argue with the logic there.
Reading that earlier this month, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen argued that the “Cold War-era total ban on nuclear explosives” was incompatible with the nation’s new role as a member of NATO — hard to argue with the logic there.