Finland will join NATO's annual nuclear deterrence exercise Steadfast Noon this October, infohub.kz reports.
According to RBC, citing the Finnish Ministry of Defence, Finland will send staff officers to the drills this year. Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said this format of participation best serves the country's national objectives.
"The nuclear deterrence exercise is designed to ensure the reliability, safety and effectiveness of NATO's nuclear deterrence. Nuclear deterrence is the ultimate guarantee of protection for the entire alliance, including Finland," Häkkänen said.
Steadfast Noon is held without the use of or movement of real nuclear weapons. NATO countries can take part in various ways, including providing conventional armed forces to support the alliance's nuclear operations.
Finland's Ministry of Defence stressed that the exercise is not linked to the international situation and is not directed against any specific country.
NATO's website specifies that this year's drills will take place in Italy. Seventeen countries will take part, and the overall scale will match previous exercises. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the drills "are aimed at maintaining the readiness of the alliance's nuclear forces and testing relevant procedures."
"NATO is a defensive alliance. These exercises help us ensure a safe, secure, effective and reliable capability to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression. They also send a clear signal of unity and resolve," Rutte said.
The exercise starts on October 13.
Recall that Finland's parliament approved the lifting of a ban on the import of nuclear explosives. The changes are related to defence issues and cooperation within NATO.
And two months after lifting the ban on nuclear weapons, Finland joined France's deterrence initiative in Europe.