Finland will increase its defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2029 to protect itself from potential Russian aggression, Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrote on X on April 1.
“This is a part of Finland’s contribution to Europe taking greater responsibility for our own defence,” Stubb stated.
The Finnish Government has today taken two key decisions, reflecting the changes in our security environment.
— Alexander Stubb (@alexstubb) April 1, 2025
First, Finland will raise its defence expenditure to 3% of GDP by 2029. This is a part of Finland’s contribution to Europe taking greater responsibility for our own…
Additionally, Finland will prepare to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use, stockpiling, production, transfer, and destruction of anti-personnel mines.
Finnish authorities and the Defense Forces have reportedly thoroughly assessed the situation and concluded that withdrawal from the Convention is necessary. The Russian-Finnish border spans over 1,300 kilometers, making up more than half of NATO's eastern flank.
Poland has announced plans to install anti-personnel mines along its borders with Russia and Belarus as part of its large-scale defense program, “Eastern Shield,” Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda confirmed during an interview with Polish media outlet RMF on March 18.
The “Eastern Shield” program, introduced in May 2024, is a multi-billion-dollar effort to fortify Poland’s borders against potential Russian aggression.
Previously, Stubb stated that he proposed April 20 as the date for a complete ceasefire in Ukraine during a recent visit to the United States, where he discussed the matter with US President Donald Trump.
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