The Daily Populous Thursday June 18th, 2026 evening edition
Authored by politico.eu and submitted by RollSafer

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen speaks with the press at a NATO summit in The Hague, the Netherlands on June 24, 2025. | Pierre Crom/Getty Images

The decision clears the way for Helsinki to receive, transport and facilitate the movement of nuclear weapons on its territory as part of allied defense operations.

Finnish lawmakers voted by a margin of 125 to 61 on Wednesday to lift the country’s longstanding ban on nuclear weapons, marking a major shift in Helsinki’s security posture as it deepens its integration with NATO.

The measure clears the way for Finland to receive, transport and otherwise facilitate the movement of nuclear weapons on its territory as part of allied defense operations, removing a decades-old legal restriction that officials say no longer fits the country’s role inside NATO. Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen hailed the move as “essential” for Finland’s security, but insisted the country had no plans to permanently station nuclear arms on its soil.

“The Parliament approved the amendment to the Nuclear Energy Act with a strong 2/3 majority,” Häkkänen wrote on X following the vote. “This historic reform strengthens the security of Finland and of NATO as a whole.” He said the issue had required years of discussions with allies and nuclear powers over how Finland could best strengthen its security within the alliance.

Venttish on June 18th, 2026 at 05:05 UTC »

To be clear, this does not mean we are going to acquire nukes. This is just a shift in legislation to be more compatible with NATO.

Vizth on June 18th, 2026 at 04:32 UTC »

Countries seeing the 2 largest nuclear powers bullying any non nato country without nukes when ever they feel like it. I wouldn't be surprised if nuclear proliferation and defense agreements are about to skyrocket.

I really hope my country comes to it's senses after Ole orange sphincter eyes is gone. but I know it's going to take years if not decades to restore trust.

And Russia is going to Russia, not much can be done about that.

vincedarling on June 18th, 2026 at 04:18 UTC »

Can’t blame them since if US is pulling back from Europe, you need the one deterrent against invasion.