Finland's government wants to abolish the country's total ban on nuclear weapons. Under the proposal, nuclear weapons could be transported through the country but not stationed there. The current Finnish legislation, which dates from the Cold War, prohibits importing and possessing nuclear warheads and restricts NATO's nuclear weapons operations, including use of Finnish airspace and planning for nuclear weapon use in defending Finnish territory.
The government's proposition and a researcher's main point are that Finland's current legislation does not sufficiently support NATO's nuclear doctrine and the defense of Finland. The government's proposal does not explicitly exclude the possibility of bringing nuclear weapons into Finland in peacetime; it would be possible if linked to Finland's military defense, NATO's defense, or military cooperation. The handling of the bill has sparked criticism in the opposition, and the Center Party's chairman proposes a joint statement that nuclear weapons should not be placed in Finland in peacetime.
The chairman says the issue is so significant and serious that it deserves another chance and should aim for broad national consensus across party lines.