Finland's parliament has passed a law lifting its long-standing ban on nuclear weapons, following a proposal from President Alexander Stubb's government. The ban, established in 1987 under the Nuclear Energy Act, prohibited the import, manufacture, possession, or detonation of nuclear weapons in Finland. The recent vote, which concluded with 125 votes in favor and 61 against, was initiated by Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen, who stated that the change was necessary due to the evolving security environment after Finland's accession to NATO.
Häkkänen emphasized that the amendment is essential for Finland's security and aligns with NATO's deterrence and collective defense strategies, though he clarified that it does not mean nuclear weapons will be immediately deployed in Finland. Opposition parties, including the Social Democratic Party, the Greens, and the Left Alliance, expressed concerns that the decision could weaken Finland's defense.
Public opinion appears to be largely against the change; a July 2023 poll indicated that 77% of Finns opposed having nuclear weapons stationed in the country. A more recent survey found that only 18% supported the deployment of nuclear weapons. The law change is not expected to have immediate effects, as there are currently no plans to acquire or deploy nuclear weapons in Finland.