Finland has decided to join France's nuclear deterrence initiative, known as forward deterrence, the Finnish Ministry of Defence announced on 14 September. French President Emmanuel Macron launched the initiative in March 2026. Eight other countries have since joined, including Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
"The French initiative will strengthen Europe's increasingly active approach to defence," said Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen. He said it does not replace or overlap with NATO's nuclear deterrence, and that joining countries take on no collective-defence obligations.
Possible forms of cooperation include dialogue on French nuclear doctrine, joint exercises and the temporary deployment of French strategic air force elements in Finland, according to the ministry.
According to the two countries, "A Nuclear Steering Group will be established in the next few months to begin the implementation of this cooperation".
President Alexander Stubb confirmed the partnership on X, stating that "Finland's foremost priority is to act as part of NATO and the European Union," adding that Finland "does not intend to station nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime."