Finland and France committed to deepening their defence partnership on Monday, with Helsinki formally joining a French initiative aimed at strengthening European security through forward nuclear deterrence.
In a joint statement, the two nations called the decision an "important step for European security, and for bilateral cooperation."
"It will strengthen their partnership, and offer opportunities for strategic signalling, as well as the ability to manage escalation below the nuclear threshold," it continued, adding that a "Nuclear Steering Group" would be set up within the next few months to "begin the implementation of this cooperation."
In a post on X, Finnish President Alexander Stubb stressed that Finland’s "foremost priority" was still to act as part of NATO and the EU and that the French initiative would not "replace or overlap with NATO’s nuclear deterrence."
"Finland does not intend to station nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime," he added.
