BIRMINGHAM, England

Finland’s main opposition party is set to vote against a government bill that would allow nuclear weapons to be transported into or through the country.

Antti Lindtman, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP), confirmed the stance Monday in a televised appearance on Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The proposal, announced last week by Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen, would remove Finland’s current legal ban on bringing nuclear weapons onto its territory. The government argues the change would align Finnish law with its status as a member of NATO, the alliance it joined in 2023.

Lindtman said Finland should approach nuclear weapons with “great restraint and consideration,” citing the country’s geographic position and security environment. He added that NATO’s nuclear deterrent already protects Finland.

At 1,340 kilometers (832 miles), Finland has the longest border with Russia among NATO countries. In 1939-1940, the Soviet Union fought and won a three-month war against Finland.

Lindtman said, “We cannot support such a legal change that takes us away from the Nordic framework,” adding that the government should have consulted parliament more broadly before introducing the measure.

Two other opposition parties, the Green League and the Left Alliance, have also said they will oppose the proposal, criticizing the government for discussing the issue within a limited circle rather than following Finland’s tradition of broad consultation on major foreign and security policy decisions.

The opposition Centre Party has indicated it will support the bill, likely giving the government enough votes to pass the legislation.

Hakkanen said the change would allow nuclear weapons to be transported into Finland only for purposes directly related to the country’s military defense and that Helsinki has no plans to host nuclear weapons on its territory.

The proposal comes as Finland reassesses its security environment amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. President Alexander Stubb recently warned that the world has entered a “new nuclear age” in which the role of nuclear weapons is growing.

Finland joined NATO in 2023 and is seeking to update its legislation to reflect its membership, the government says.