Finnish President decries 'New era of nuclear weapons'

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said that a "new era of nuclear weapons" had begun, after repeated statements by US President Donald Trump announcing his intention to resume nuclear testing.    

The "logic of deterrence" and "strategic stability between superpowers" are undergoing a profound transformation, Stubb said in a speech delivered in Helsinki.

"We have entered a new era in nuclear weapons, in which, unfortunately, the importance of these weapons continues to grow," Stubb stressed.

Last week, Trump sparked widespread concern and protests around the world when he announced his intention to resume nuclear weapons testing, without saying exactly what he planned.

It remains unclear whether Trump means testing weapons capable of carrying a nuclear warhead or detonating a nuclear charge itself, which the United States has not carried out since 1992. 

On Sunday, Trump alleged countries including Russia and China have conducted underground nuclear tests unknown to the public – a claim that China's foreign ministry flatly denied on Monday.

As a "responsible nuclear-weapons state, China has always... upheld a self-defense nuclear strategy and abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference in Beijing.

She added that China hopes the United States will "take concrete actions to safeguard the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and maintain global strategic balance and stability."

As a "responsible nuclear-weapons state, China has always... upheld a self-defense nuclear strategy and abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference in Beijing.

She added that China hopes the United States will "take concrete actions to safeguard the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and maintain global strategic balance and stability."

Trump's quotes come after nuclear rhetoric has periodically returned to public conversation, since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel's attack on Gaza. 

Stubb's country Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia. After the confklict in Ukraine began, it abandoned decades of military non-alignment by joining NATO in 2023 – and its president said Finland and its allies must continue to ask difficult questions.

"How can we strengthen our deterrent capacity together? How can we control escalation?" Stubb asked during a speech in the capital Helsinki.