The Kremlin said it would regard the possible deployment of nuclear weapons on Finnish territory as a direct threat. This is how Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian president, reacted to Finland’s government announcement that it plans to abandon the long-standing ban on hosting nuclear weapons on its territory.
«This statement increases Finland’s vulnerability, the vulnerability provoked by the actions of the Finnish authorities. The fact is that by deploying nuclear weapons on its territory, Finland begins to threaten us. And if Finland threatens us, we take appropriate measures»
– Dmitry Peskov
Context and consequences of the statement
He added that Finland’s statement leads to escalation across the entire European continent.
On the eve of the announcement, the Finnish government stated that they plan to lift the long-standing ban on storing nuclear weapons on their territory.
Finnish law, enacted in 1987, bans the import, production, possession, and detonation of nuclear explosive devices on the country’s territory.
Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen noted that the government is initiating changes to the law, “to ensure Finland’s defense as part of NATO and to fully leverage the advantages of deterrence and the alliance’s collective defense.”
Finland joined NATO in 2023 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
On March 2, President Emmanuel Macron said that France would increase the number of its nuclear warheads. The concept he announced, “deep deterrence,” envisages gradually forming a network of strategic cooperation with other European countries around France’s nuclear capability. France already cooperates on this issue with Britain. Macron also named Germany as a key partner. “They responded positively to France’s proposal. The first stages of cooperation will begin this year and may include visits to strategic sites and joint exercises,” Macron said.
Additionally, the so-called “deep deterrence” will include Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark, Macron said.