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'No need' for Finland to place US nuclear weapons on its territory — prime minister

According to Petteri Orpo, Finland will rely instead on conventional weapons and nuclear weapons deployed in other NATO countries to deter potential threats

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo Carsten Koall/Getty Images

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo

© Carsten Koall/Getty Images

MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. Helsinki sees "no need" to deploy elements of the US nuclear arsenal on Finnish territory, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said.

"There is no need for this [the deployment of US nuclear weapons in Finland], because NATO itself provides nuclear deterrence," the prime minister said in an interview with the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita. He pointed out that the nuclear weapons already deployed in several countries of the alliance are sufficient to ensure NATO's security. Nevertheless, according to the prime minister, Finland is "preparing to participate in deterring [potential threats to the alliance] with conventional weapons."

The US deploys its nuclear arsenal in NATO countries as part of the Nuclear Sharing Program. Earlier, Polish authorities expressed their desire to join the program. Finland became a member of NATO on April 4, 2023.

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United States NATO Finland

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