Finland has decided to join the French initiative to develop European nuclear deterrence. The decision was announced on September 14 by Finland’s Ministry of Defense and the Élysée Palace.
The Finnish defense ministry said the initiative is important for Europe’s security and for strengthening the continent’s deterrence potential. According to the Ministry of Defense, this concerns bilateral cooperation between Helsinki and Paris; the talks were held confidentially at the political and military levels.
The French initiative, proposed in March by President Emmanuel Macron, envisages expanding consultations with European allies on nuclear deterrence issues. Within its framework, joint exercises may be held and the short-term deployment of French assets capable of carrying nuclear weapons on the territory of partner countries may be considered.
At the same time, the program does not mean Finland acquiring its own nuclear weapons, the transfer of the French nuclear arsenal to it, or the automatic extension to it of a separate French “nuclear umbrella.” The format is described as strengthening coordination and bilateral interaction in the security sphere.
Finland became a participant in the initiative against the backdrop of European countries revising their defense policies. The country joined NATO in April 2023 and has a land border with Russia about 1,340 kilometers long.
