Media: France may extend nuclear umbrella to Finland

France could potentially deploy nuclear weapons in Finland as part of efforts to deter Russia in Northern Europe and across the continent, according to a report by the magazine The National Interest.

The discussion follows a proposal made in early March by French President Emmanuel Macron to extend France’s “nuclear umbrella” to other European countries. Preliminary consultations on the idea reportedly involve eight countries, including Sweden, which joined NATO together with Finland.

According to the report, Finland could potentially host French nuclear weapons if the Finnish government successfully passes a legislative amendment allowing such deployments.

Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said on March 5 that the government had proposed allowing the import, transportation, delivery and storage of nuclear weapons in situations “related to defence.”

However, Finnish President Alexander Stubb later stated that Finland does not require nuclear weapons in peacetime. He stressed that Helsinki remains committed to nuclear disarmament while retaining the sovereign right to make decisions regarding nuclear weapons if circumstances require it.

Stubb also clarified that, as a member of NATO, Finland does not face any restrictions on decisions related to nuclear weapons deployment.

By Tamilla Hasanova