Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated that his country saw no need for the deployment of US nuclear weapons on its territory.
There is no need for this [deployment of US nuclear weapons in Finland] because NATO itself provides nuclear deterrence.
Orpo declared that nuclear weapons already deployed in a number of NATO countries are sufficient to deter potential threats, adding that Finland was “preparing” and would rely on “conventional weapons.”
In December, the Finnish government signed a defence military agreement with the US to bolster its defence in the event of conflict. According to the document, the US will have unrestricted access to 15 facilities in Finland, as well as storage sites for military equipment and ammunition.
However, the government confirmed at that time already that the deal did not override Finnish law, which prohibited the storage and transport of nuclear weapons on Finnish territory.
Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia, became the latest NATO member on April 4, 2023, following the outbreak of war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of “dragging” Finland into the military alliance and creating a rift between Moscow and Helsinki.
