Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin spoke in Yle on Saturday and confirmed that Finland does not rule out nuclear weapons on its territory.

The statement was preceded by information in the newspaper Iltalehti that the Finnish government's bill on joining NATO will soon be sent for consultation.

On Tuesday, both Sweden's ÖB Micael Bydén and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) made similar statements.

FOI's Robert Dalsjö explains what it's all about:

- Nuclear weapons are a trump card in the international power game.

Finland and Sweden join NATO to gain protection against Russia, which has nuclear weapons and often threatens to use them.

Without nuclear weapons, NATO would not be able to take a hard line against Russia and therefore also not be able to protect us, says Robert Dalsjö, who has studied NATO's nuclear doctrine closely.

Research leader and NATO expert Robert Dalsjö at the Total Defense Research Institute (FOI).

However, few experts believe that it is likely that any of NATO's nuclear powers would place nuclear weapons on Finnish or Swedish territory - unless nuclear-armed aircraft or naval vessels have to pass through the countries' territories.

- A decision not to allow nuclear weapons in peacetime could be perceived as defiance towards Russia, which would be particularly unfortunate now that Russia is waging a war of aggression to wipe out a democratic European state and is also threatening with nuclear weapons.

HERE you can explore the world's nuclear powers.

Norway and Denmark made exceptions

Three NATO members today have nuclear weapons (USA, France or Great Britain).

None of these have been placed in the territories of new members since the end of the Cold War.

When Norway and Denmark became members, they limited their involvement so that neither the basing of nuclear weapons nor the permanent basing of conventional forces was allowed on their territory in normal peacetime.

Currently, seven NATO countries have specially certified fighter jets (US, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, Belgium and Greece) capable of carrying US B61 tactical nuclear bombs deployed in Europe.

- If we want the protection that nuclear weapons provide, it would be hypocritical and egotistical to still politically mark against them, which would weaken our position within the alliance, says Robert Dalsjö.

Javascript is disabled

Javascript must be enabled to play video

Read more about browser support

Hear William Alberque, director at the renowned International Institute for Strategic Studies, analyze how Sweden's participation in NATO's nuclear weapons management might look.

Photo: SVT/US Air Force