On March 6, Russia accused Finland of escalating tensions in Europe when reviewing its policy on placing nuclear weapons on its territory.
According to Finnish radio news reports, the government may ease strict control measures on nuclear weapons.
Currently, Finland has strict prohibitions on nuclear weapons in production, storage, import as well as transportation by land, sea and air.
Regarding developments in Finland, on March 6, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Helsinki is only increasing its vulnerability by considering its current stance.
Mr. Peskov emphasized that by allowing nuclear weapons on its territory, Finland will threaten Russia.
And if Finland threatens us, we will take appropriate measures" - Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman warned.
The main issue being considered in Finland is whether Helsinki should allow the transportation of nuclear weapons from other NATO countries through its territory.
At a press conference on March 5, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said that the country's legal ban on nuclear weapons, dating back to 1980, is no longer appropriate in the current geopolitical context.
The law does not meet Finland's needs as a NATO member," Mr. Hakkanen said.
Finland, a neutral nation for decades, joined the NATO defense alliance in April 2023 in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict that broke out in February 2022.
This country shares more than 1,000km of border with Russia. Finland is also accelerating and reforming its defense plans.
Mr. Hakkanen said that nuclear weapons will be allowed to be transported into Finnish territory if defense needs require it.
The Minister declined to give detailed scenarios but ruled out the possibility of deploying nuclear warheads on Finnish territory.
Finland is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1968.
In Europe, France and the United Kingdom possess their own nuclear weapons. The US also stores nuclear warheads in some NATO member states, including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey.
Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a plan to strengthen its nuclear arsenal and cooperate more closely with European partners, including the possibility of temporarily deploying French fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons abroad.
