Finland's parliament voted overwhelmingly on June 19 to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines amid growing threats from Russia and the need to strengthen national defence.
AP reports this.
Finland lifts ban on anti-personnel mines
Finland shares a 1,340-km land border with Russia and became a NATO member in 2023. The country's authorities say anti-personnel mines could be an effective means of defense in the event of armed aggression, given its large territory and difficult terrain.
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Parliament voted 157 to 18 in favour of the government's proposal to withdraw from the international treaty.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Northern Europe and the Baltic states have repeatedly warned of possible Russian aggression.
Analysts note that Ukraine is one of the countries most affected by mines and explosive remnants of war due to the ongoing war with Russia.
The Ottawa Convention was signed in 1997 and entered into force in 1999. About three dozen countries have not joined it, including the key mine producers and users: the United States, China, India, Pakistan, South Korea and Russia.
According to a report by the international organization Landmine Monitor, in 2023-2024, anti-personnel mines were actively used by Russia, Myanmar, Iran and North Korea.
