(MENAFN) Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has cautioned that the globe has entered “a new nuclear age” as international security pressures escalate and nuclear weapons assume a growing role.

Addressing the inauguration of Finland’s 254th National Defence Course in Helsinki on Monday, Stubb remarked that the nation’s security climate has become “harsher than we would prefer,” largely due to Russia’s continuing conflict in Ukraine.

“The assessment of our security environment begins with Russia, its objectives and the means it employs to pursue these objectives," he explained.

He added, "One of these means is war, and, indeed, Russia is now in its fourth year of war in Ukraine,” underscoring that Ukraine “is fighting not only for its own existence but also for the whole of Europe and democracy.”

Stubb highlighted that aiding Ukraine also serves Finland’s interests, emphasizing that Kyiv’s experience in contemporary warfare provides valuable insights.

“Ukraine has an unparalleled understanding of modern warfare, and we are learning a lot from them. Cooperation is a two-way street,” he noted.

While Stubb affirmed that Russia does not present an immediate military danger to Finland, he emphasized that ongoing investments in deterrence and defense remain crucial to mitigating future threats.

He portrayed the current global landscape as one of “multidimensional crises,” shaped by hybrid threats and the necessity to safeguard not only physical and digital infrastructure but also what he described as “mental infrastructure," referring to societal resilience and cohesion.

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