Debate over plan to remove nuclear weapons ban intensifies

Political dispute in Finland over whether to lift the legal ban on nuclear weapons showed no sign of easing on Friday, as opposition Social Democratic Party Chair Antti Lindtman said the government's plan to remove the ban should be suspended, reported Xinhua.

At a meeting between President Alexander Stubb and leaders of all parliamentary parties on Friday, Lindtman said an all-party working group should be established to prepare the matter.

An unprecedented security policy dispute erupted in Finland last week after Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen announced plans to remove the prohibition on nuclear weapons from Finnish legislation in a move aimed at aligning Finnish law with NATO's deterrence and defense policy.

Opposition parties argued that the government had broken with Finland's long-standing practice of broad consultation on major security policy decisions, noting that they were informed only one day in advance.

In addition, experts and peace advocates have expressed concern that such a move could distance Finland from the Nordic security tradition and ultimately make the country less secure.

On Friday, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the government could issue a declaration committing Finland not to allow nuclear weapons on its territory during peacetime while still lifting the legal ban.

However, Lindtman said such a declaration would not be sufficient and that the commitment should be written into law.

At a press conference after the meeting, Stubb said Finland would not allow the deployment of nuclear weapons in peacetime and that the country remains committed to its international obligations promoting nuclear disarmament.

The government announced on Thursday that it will seek to amend the Nuclear Energy Act and the Criminal Code to remove the blanket ban, in place since the 1980s, on the import of nuclear devices and their transport, supply and possession in Finland.

Under the proposed changes, such activities would be permitted in the context of Finland's national defense, NATO's collective defense, or other defense cooperation. Finland joined NATO in 2023 as the alliance's 31st member state.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the draft amendments have entered public consultation, with comments due by April 2, as the government seeks to enact the changes as soon as possible.