Finland lifts long-standing ban on having nuclear weapons in historic move

Finland has voted to lift its long-standing ban on nuclear weapons in a historic move to bring Helsinki closer to Nato.

Lawmakers voted by a margin of 125 to 61 to lift the ban, clearing the way for Finland to receive, transport and otherwise facilitate the movement of nuclear weapons on its territory.

Supporters of the legislation says the former restriction no longer fit the country’s role inside Nato.

Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said the move was "essential" for Finland’s security, but added Helsinki had no plans to permanently station nuclear arms on its soil.

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He said: "The Parliament approved the amendment to the Nuclear Energy Act with a strong 2/3 majority. This historic reform strengthens the security of Finland and of Nato as a whole."

Finland joined Nato in 2023 and shares more than 1,300 kilometers of border with Russia.

Mr Häkkänen argued that the country’s nuclear restrictions, dating back to 1980, no longer reflected the geopolitical realities facing a Nato member.

He said the issue had required years of discussions with allies and nuclear powers over how Finland could best strengthen its security within the alliance, reports Politico.

New images have revealed Russia is expanding its military presence on the border with Finland and neighbouring Norway construction work such as new barracks, warehouses, and army vehicles.

The images, released by Danish broadcaster DR, highlighting five military bases in Russia which had been expanded since 2024.

These include Pechenga, just over miles from Norway, Kandalaksha, bordering Finland, Luga, near Estonia, Kaliningrad, in between Poland and Lithuania, and Petrozavodsk, near Finland.

A spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defence has already confirmed the number of troops stationed at Pechenga would expand.

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Across Finland, tensions and security concerns remain high, given the large land border and proximity to Saint Petersberg.

Back in May, Finnish authorities were quick to deploy fighter jets after a suspected drone entered airspace near Helsinki.

President Alexander Stubb later said Finland had faced "no direct military threat" in the incident.

Meanwhile military officials revealed they had received advance intelligence warning of the incident.

At this week's G7, Donald Trump described Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin as "neutral" during the war with Iran, saying they had not thwarted his efforts to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

President Trump's comments stood in contrast to his comments on US allies from Japan to Europe, whom he has criticised for not helping with the military operation or subsequent efforts to clear the Strait of Hormuz, the Iran-blocked maritime trade route.

Moscow and Beijing maintain close ties with Tehran, with the Kremlin claiming the war could lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

Beijing has condemned Washington's attacks on Tehran as a brazen violation of the country's sovereignty.

US intelligence officials assess that Beijing supplied Tehran with goods with potential military uses, according to people familiar with the matter.

China's independent oil refiners have been Iran's main customers during the conflict, defying US sanctions.

But Mr Trump said that President Xi was helpful to resolving the conflict, and avoided sending in "big weaponry" or shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles.

"They could have sent in an oil ship with six destroyers alongside of it, on each side. They didn't do that. President Xi helped me. He tried to help, and I think he probably helped get it solved," President Trump said.

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