Finland Abolishes 40-Year Nuclear Ban, Russia Warns: "We Will Destroy Half of Finland"
Finland officially abolished its nearly 40-year-old nuclear weapons ban on July 1, 2026, marking a complete shift in its security policy toward NATO.
The Finnish Parliament previously passed the amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act and the Criminal Code by a vote of 125 in favor and 61 opposed, and President Stubb formally signed them into law on June 26. The new regulations permit the import, transport, delivery, and possession of nuclear explosive devices within the contexts of national defense, NATO collective defense, or defense cooperation. Although Finnish officials—including the president and prime minister—have repeatedly emphasized that nuclear weapons will not be deployed during peacetime, this move effectively clears institutional barriers for future deployment of NATO nuclear deterrence capabilities.
Finland shares a border with Russia exceeding 1,340 kilometers in length. In response to Finland’s legislative changes, Russia reacted with strong hostility.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova explicitly stated that Finland’s decision poses a “real threat” to Russian national security, and that Russia would take “additional political and military-technical countermeasures,” which would be implemented promptly and effectively.
The Russian Embassy in Finland warned that even the theoretical possibility of nuclear weapons being present on Finnish territory would be recorded by Russian military planners and considered in future military planning.
Russia’s State Duma Defense Committee First Deputy Chairperson Yuriy Zhuravlyov even issued a severe warning, accusing Finnish leaders of “leading their country into an abyss” and declaring that Russia’s military equipment stationed along the border is “capable of destroying half of Finland.”
Finland’s move represents not only a strategic pivot in its own security policy but also reflects a broader relaxation of nuclear policies across Europe. On one hand, it is seen as a precautionary measure by Finland in anticipation of potential weakening of U.S. nuclear security guarantees; on the other hand, Finland’s deregulation may provide a foothold for European countries like France to implement “forward nuclear deterrence” strategies. This action severely challenges Russia’s security red lines, signaling a full-scale escalation of strategic confrontation in the Baltic region and heralding the collapse of Europe’s traditional nuclear security balance.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869469262347467/
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