The bill on Finland’s membership in NATO does not contain any restrictions on bringing nuclear weapons into the country or establishing NATO bases there, Iltalehti reports with reference to its foreign and security policy sources. The F-35A fighters that Finland also acquired can be equipped with tactical nuclear weapons if necessary.
It is reported that the bill on Finland’s accession to NATO is almost ready and will be submitted to the opinion round within two weeks. As specified, the draft law does not set any restrictions on the establishment of NATO bases in the territory of the Finnish state, nor does it limit the presence of forces from the member countries of the alliance.
It is claimed that the possibility of bringing nuclear weapons into the territory of Finland “is important because, ultimately, NATO’s preventive deterrence against Russia relies on the nuclear weapons of the United States and Britain.”
“It would be stupid to set thresholds for yourself, which in reality could make it difficult to defend Finland,” the sources said.
Moreover, Finnish Foreign Minister, Pekka Haavisto, and Defense Minister, Antti Kaikkonen, reportedly gave a commitment in the membership talks with NATO in July that Finland would not make restrictions concerning its NATO membership in its accession agreement.
As reminded, last week, American B-52 bombers already flew in NATO’s nuclear weapons exercises over the North Sea and near the Arctic regions, as they consider Russia’s nuclear arsenal to be found in the Murmansk region.
In addition, the Finnish newspaper assumes that in the future, Finnish F-35 fighters will practice protecting American strategic bombers in the north (these bombers can carry nuclear weapons).
According to the newspaper’s sources, when Finland becomes a full member of NATO, Finns will be able to join NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group to “complete” Finland’s new defense plan, which will be kept in secret.
Ru-Main, 26.10.2022
Source: Izvestia
