Finland pulls out of land mine treaty amid rising tensions with Russia

On Thursday, June 19, 2025, Finland's parliament made a significant decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty aimed at banning antipersonnel land mines. This vote, which resulted in a remarkable majority of 157 lawmakers in favor compared to 18 against, reflects the Nordic country's strategic shift in response to regional security concerns stemming from Russia's increasing assertiveness. Sharing a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border with Russia, Finland's defense policy has evolved, particularly since its accession to NATO in 2023, demonstrating its commitment to enhance its military capabilities. The decision to exit the treaty is also influenced by an ongoing perception of threats posed by Russia, especially following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Analysts note that while Ukraine is a current hotspot for issues related to land mines and unexploded ordnance due to this conflict, the growing unease in the Nordic and Baltic countries has prompted Finland to reconsider its previous stances on such weapons. The utilization of land mines is seen by some officials as an inevitable strategy to defend Finland’s complex landscape effectively in the event of a military assault. The Ottawa Convention, which Finland joined prior to 2023, was established in 1997 and has seen several countries opt to remain outside its regulations, including historical land mine producers and users like the United States, China, and Russia. Lawmakers in neighboring Baltic States such as Latvia and Lithuania have similarly voted to pull out of the treaty earlier in the year, further indicating a regional shift in military strategies amidst a tense geopolitical climate. Experts and humanitarian organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, have expressed grave concerns regarding the potential ramifications of these decisions. Mirjana Spoljaric, the organization's president, highlighted the significant danger this could pose to civilians, indicating that more nations abandoning the treaty could weaken global norms against the use of antipersonnel mines. The retreat from such humanitarian precedents risks undoing decades of global efforts to mitigate the impacts of warfare on innocent populations. The fundamental challenge now remains for countries to balance national security needs with the broader humanitarian implications of these military decisions, as the trend towards military rearmament continues to escalate in the region.