Finland Abandons Landmine Ban Treaty Amidst Eastern Tensions
Finland abandons commitments related to mine ban Treaties
In a move that signals growing concern over its eastern border, Finland has decided to exit the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines. This controversial decision comes after the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia took a similar step.
The Finnish parliament, with a majority vote of 157 to 18, has agreed to withdraw from the treaty, slated to take effect six months after the United Nations receives Helsinki's notification. The Finnish government had hinted earlier in April that it may exit the treaty, with the parliamentary foreign affairs committee offering support [1].
The Finnish military believes that anti-personnel mines are crucial for defending the country, despite the convention banning their use, storage, production, transfer, and destruction. Notable powers like the USA, Russia, China, and India have not joined the treaty. Finland, which borders Russia for approximately 800 miles, made the decision to join NATO in response to Russia's incursion into Ukraine in 2022. Finland became a part of NATO in April 2023, with Sweden following suit about a year later [1][2].
The change in security environment following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Finland's non-member status of the Ottawa Convention have played a significant role in the decision. Finland's President Alexander Stubb and other government officials used the aggressive stance of Russia and the threat perceived along Finland's long border with Russia as a primary justification [3].
This withdrawal aligns Finland with its Baltic allies who have already exited the treaty [3]. In a nutshell, the move is aimed at boosting national defense in response to the evolving security threats from Russia, allowing the Finnish Defense Forces to utilize landmines as part of their defensive strategy [2][3].
- Finland
- Helsinki
- Defense
- Russia
[1] ntv.de
[2] lar/dpa
[3] cnn.com
[4] bbc.com
[5] usatoday.com
"Amidst growing concerns over Eastern tensions and the evolving security environment, Finland's decision to abandon the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines has been influenced by politics and general news, such as the effects of war-and-conflicts, particularly Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This move aligns with the employment policies of neighboring Baltic states and is aimed at boosting the national defense of Helsinki, utilizing the defense strategy that includes the use of landmines."
"The employment policy change, in light of the withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, follows Finland's joining NATO in response to Russia's aggressive actions in Eastern Europe. This serves to highlight the importance of community policy and international politics in addressing regional threats and ensuring the safety of Finland's borders."
