Finnish Breaks Nuclear Weapons Ban ... "Nordic Four" Enhance Security

¬ Facing Russian threats, countries may possess and import nuclear weapons; Norway joins France's nuclear umbrella, Sweden and Denmark introduce female conscription... Four nations integrate fighter jets and advance joint air force

On the 17th, Finland’s parliament abolished the 1980 Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Act. The newly passed bill, approved by 125 votes in favor and 61 opposed, allows for the import, use, supply, and possession of nuclear weapons within Finland if national security demands it. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen welcomed the move, stating: "This will strengthen defense capabilities and maximize the use of NATO’s (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) nuclear deterrence as a protective mechanism." After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Finland abandoned its long-standing neutrality and joined NATO the following year. Now, three years later, it has lifted the ban on importing nuclear weapons into its territory.

The Nordic countries—Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark—collectively known as the "Nordic Four," are accelerating their security enhancements. Historically, these nations were slow to expand military capabilities, relying instead on peace, welfare, and human rights to exert influence internationally. However, the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war and the isolationist stance of the Trump II U.S. administration have created an increasingly uncertain global landscape, prompting these nations to urgently pivot their security policies toward strengthening defense forces.

Finland is leading this trend. With a 1,340-kilometer border shared with Russia, Finland has historically experienced Russian rule and attacks. Despite long adhering to a multilateral foreign policy based on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland began fully pursuing “autonomous defense.” Beyond joining NATO and repealing the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Act, Finland has also begun constructing border walls. The country claims this is a response to potential Russian efforts to funnel refugees across its border, building a 140-kilometer-long iron barrier along the Russian frontier.

“Nobel Peace Prize Awarding Nation” Norway is also bolstering its security. In May, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre signed a defense agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron to join France’s “nuclear umbrella.” Norway formally enters a collective security system centered on France, Europe’s only official nuclear state. In 2009, just one year after President Barack Obama took office, Norway awarded him the Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy of a “nuclear-free world”—a stark contrast to today’s reality where Norway now faces the necessity of relying on nuclear weapons for national security.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Norway has repeatedly faced off with Russian air forces over the Arctic and Barents Sea, experiencing unprecedented security threats. In response, Norway has expanded the presence of U.S. nuclear-powered submarines in its ports and accelerated collective security cooperation. Recently, senior Norwegian military officials openly declared: "We are preparing for a possible Russian attack."

Sweden, which joined NATO alongside Finland, has also abandoned its long-held pursuit of peace and is now striving vigorously to enhance security. In May, over 16,000 Swedish troops, allied NATO forces, and Ukrainian soldiers conducted large-scale joint military exercises on Gotland Island, a key Baltic stronghold—an event widely seen as a symbolic demonstration of Sweden’s strategic shift in security policy.

Donald Trump’s public statements about potentially annexing Greenland and incorporating it into U.S. territory have deeply troubled Denmark, whose sovereignty is at stake, triggering a dramatic change in its security policy. In January, Denmark devised wartime plans to destroy Greenland’s airports in the event of a U.S. military attempt to forcibly seize the island. It is also advancing plans to deploy additional Danish troops to Greenland. Thus, even within the tightly knit NATO alliance, based on the principle that an attack on one is an attack on all, the possibility of armed conflict has emerged as a tangible scenario.

Moreover, the Nordic Four are uniting to advance collective security. In 2023, the four nations agreed to consolidate 250 fighter jets and establish a “Nordic Joint Air Force.” They also proposed integrating aerial assets to build a unified air defense network. Training exercises led by the Nordic Four continue to grow in scale. In March, 32,000 personnel from 14 nations—including Norway, Finland, the United States, and the United Kingdom—participated in Norway-led “Cold Response” military drills. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are also planning to implement female conscription.

The background behind the Nordic Four’s push for enhanced self-reliance and security extends beyond the threat posed by Russia. It also stems from the U.S. Trump administration’s pursuit of maximalist national interests through isolationist diplomacy. Analysts suggest that at the 2025 NATO summit, Trump may demand that member states increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 and hint at possible forced annexation of Greenland, pushing the Nordic nations to accelerate their security buildup. A recent report by the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies noted: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has intensified threats, shifting America’s role from unconditional protector to unpredictable strategic risk. As a result, Nordic countries are now seriously considering the option of deploying nuclear weapons domestically.”

The Nordic Four

A term used in international political discourse to describe Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, united under the NATO framework to strengthen security cooperation. Since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, tensions in the Nordic region have risen sharply, making this term increasingly prevalent. While Finland differs ethnically from the other three, when referring to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark as a cultural community, the term “Scandinavian Three” is often used.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868480800579584/

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