nuclear-news

Finland is a focal point of Nato’s largest exercise since the Cold War, and looks to siting nuclear weapons.

YLE NEWS 26 Jan 24

Nato’s largest military exercise since the Cold War is starting in Finland this week, reports Ilta-Sanomat.

The exercise, dubbed “Steadfast Defender”, is bringing Nato soldiers to Finland. The drill, which includes a total of 90,000 troops from 31 Nato countries, will span this winter and spring and involves thousands of troops moving massive amounts of material through Sweden.

Troops are practicing defending a European Nato ally that has come under attack. Swedish broadcaster SVT has reported that the exercise features a scenario where Russia attacks Finland and Nato invokes Article 5, its collective defence clause.

Nuclear reality

An editorial in Helsingin Sanomat suggests that Finnish leaders have not come to terms with the fact that nuclear weapons are a core part of Nato’s deterrence policy. The paper notes that some presidential candidates don’t support siting nuclear weapons in Finland. At the same time, Finland is reworking its nuclear safety laws. According to HS, these reforms must not impede Nato’s operational activities in a wartime situation in Finland.

The nuclear deterrent is a central component of Nato’s security guarantees, under which Finland sought protection by pursuing membership in the alliance. For that reason, Finland must bear its own responsibility in preserving that deterrent, according to the national daily……………. more https://yle.fi/a/74-20070550

January 27, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Finland, weapons and war