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Finland Withdraws From Landmine Treaty Amid Rising Military Threat From Russia
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Finland’s parliament has voted in favor of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use of anti-personnel landmines.
According to Polish broadcaster TVP on June 19, the decision comes amid heightened security concerns over Russia’s growing military threat.
With this move, Finland joins several other EU and NATO member states bordering Russia—including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland—that have already withdrawn or are in the process of withdrawing from the treaty, citing the need to strengthen national defense.
Defending the decision earlier this week, Finnish President Alexander Stubb underscored the urgency of the shift in policy.
“The reality in the endgame is that we have as our neighbouring country an aggressive, imperialist state called Russia, which itself is not a member of the Ottawa Treaty and which itself uses landmines ruthlessly,” Stubb stated.
The Finnish vote follows similar steps taken by the parliaments of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, all of which have approved exiting the treaty as part of broader national defense measures.
Earlier, Russia expanded its military infrastructure near the Finnish border, with new construction underway in the Lupche-Savino area of Kandalaksha, located in the Murmansk region.
The project, which began over the winter, involves extensive land clearing, the construction of new facilities, and the renovation of existing buildings. The site is reportedly being developed into a garrison that will accommodate a new artillery brigade and an engineering unit.
