The Parliament of Finland has approved a decision to withdraw the country from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines, RKS News reports.
The move comes amid growing security concerns over neighboring Russia, which Finnish authorities have described as an imperialist aggressor. The decision reflects a shift in Finland’s defense strategy in response to what is seen as an escalating military threat.
Finland now joins a group of EU and NATO countries bordering Russia—such as Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland—that have either withdrawn or signaled intentions to withdraw from the convention.
President Alexander Stubb, responsible for Finland’s foreign and security policy, defended the decision by pointing out that Russia is not a signatory to the treaty and has used landmines indiscriminately, as witnessed during the war in Ukraine.
