Finland has announced that it has decided to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines. Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that the decision was made within the framework of the security strategy of the country, which shares its longest border of 1.340 kilometers with Russia. In a statement made via his official X account, Stubb stated that this decision was based on a comprehensive assessment made by the relevant ministries and the Defence Forces of Finland.
The Need for Security at the Border
Finland’s decision appears to be taken in the context of other countries in the Baltic region, particularly Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, which plan to consider the use of mines to more effectively protect their borders with Russia. The Ottawa Convention was adopted in 1997 as an international treaty banning the use of anti-personnel mines and currently has 133 signatories. However, some major countries, such as Russia, Belarus, the US and China, are not party to the convention.
The Ukrainian War and the Role of Mines
Information that Moscow is using mines extensively in Ukraine may have also played a role in this decision. According to the latest data from the United Nations, Ukraine became the most mine-laden country in the world in 2023. While mines are used as a defensive tool in military operations, the dangers posed to civilians by unexploded ordnance also cause serious problems in the long term. Finland wants to strengthen its defense strategy, especially considering the military advantages of mines, as the situation in Ukraine has shown.
Finland's Defense Strategy
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated that withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention would allow the country to better adapt to its security environment. This decision would provide flexibility in Finland's defense strategy and help build a stronger defense infrastructure against changing security threats. In addition, Finland committed to increasing its defense spending to 2029 percent of its gross domestic product by 3.
This step can be considered as an important move towards reshaping Finland's security policies as a NATO member.
