Russian President Vladimir Putin could now face nuclear weapons on his doorstep after a NATO ally changed its rules on weapons of mass destruction. Lawmakers in Finland on Wednesday, June 17, voted to lift the country's longstanding ban on nuclear weapons, allowing for the import, transport, supply, and possession of nuclear arms on its territory when necessary.
Finland's Shift in Security Strategy
The Finnish government has said the country has no plans to host nuclear weapons at this time. The decision marks a major shift in Helsinki's security strategy as it tries to strengthen ties with its NATO allies against Russia. Finland shares an 810-mile border with Russia, and the move has worried the Russian leader.
According to Nexta TV, Putin has claimed that Finland planned to snatch part of Russia. "What did Finland join NATO for? Did we have any territorial disputes with Finland? No! Everything had long been settled," Putin reportedly said. "Why did they join NATO then? In the hope that everything here would collapse, and they'd swoop in and grab what they could."
Deterrence and Defence
The change in the law was designed as a deterrent in an uncertain security environment, the Finnish government has said. "With this proposal, we are strengthening Finland's defence and enabling the full use of NATO's nuclear deterrent as protection for Finland," Antti Hakkanen, the Finnish defence minister, said on X.
Finland abandoned its longstanding stance of military neutrality after Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The country joined NATO in 2023, doubling the alliance's border with Russia.
Russian Military Buildup
Just days earlier, Putin's military buildup along Russia's borders with NATO countries was revealed. Satellite images released by Denmark's national broadcaster show new barracks, warehouses, and army vehicles being constructed over the past two years. It has been reported that the Murmansk area, near Finland and Norway, could now house 17,000 extra soldiers in striking range of neighbours, while another site near the Estonian border has amassed large numbers of military vehicles.
Russia has denied any plans to attack NATO countries. Former intelligence officer Philip Ingram said the buildup is part of a long game by the Kremlin. "The preparation of these bases is to do two things," Ingram said. "Firstly, to respond to the expansion of NATO by suggesting a real capability to threaten NATO's borders over a very long front. Secondly, to set the condition that, if Putin gets to a point where the Ukraine war is finished, he can rapidly rearm and deploy to actually threaten NATO's borders. This is preparation for a second Cold War."
