By Peter Omopo
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has warned that the world is entering “a new era of nuclear weapons,” following the United States’ announcement that it plans to resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time in more than three decades.
Speaking in Helsinki on Monday, Stubb said the balance of global deterrence and strategic stability between world powers was undergoing a dangerous transformation.
“We have entered a new era of nuclear weapons, in which, unfortunately, the significance of nuclear weapons has been increasing,” the Finnish leader said.
According to Stubb, the “logic of deterrence” that guided global powers during the Cold War is shifting rapidly amid renewed nuclear rhetoric and competition among major states.
U.S. to Resume Nuclear Testing
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to restart nuclear weapons testing, sparking global concern over whether the United States would conduct its first nuclear explosion since 1992.
The move follows Russia’s recent announcement that it had successfully tested a nuclear-powered cruise missile, Burevestnik, as well as a nuclear-capable underwater drone, both capable of carrying atomic warheads.
Currently, North Korea is the only nation known to have carried out live nuclear detonations in recent decades. Neither Russia nor China has officially conducted nuclear tests since 1990 and 1996, respectively.
Renewed Nuclear Rivalry
In a statement on Sunday, President Trump alleged that both Russia and China have secretly carried out underground nuclear tests, vowing that the United States “would follow suit” to maintain parity.
President Stubb warned that such actions risk heightening tensions and eroding decades of non-proliferation efforts.
“How can we build deterrence together? How can we control escalation?” he asked, adding that smaller nations like Finland must now reassess their security policies “in cooperation with allies.”
Finland’s Strategic Shift
Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia, joined the U.S.-led NATO alliance in 2023, ending decades of military non-alignment. The decision followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which reshaped the security landscape across Europe.
Stubb’s remarks reflect growing unease among European leaders over the resurgence of nuclear brinkmanship by global powers, a trend analysts fear could undermine international stability and arms control agreements forged after the Cold War.
The Finnish president called for renewed global dialogue to prevent a new arms race, stressing that “strategic restraint and cooperation” remain essential to averting catastrophe.
