Finland parliament votes to exit landmine accord amidst security concerns due to Russia's threat
Headline: Finnish Parliament Vote Favors Withdrawal From Anti-Landmine Treaty over Russia's Aggression
Keywords: Russia, Finland, Landmines, NATO, Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Finland's legislative body, the parliament, has led a controversial move, abandoning ship from the international treaty on banning anti-personnel landmines. Lawmakers voted 157-18 in favor of exiting the Ottawa Treaty, a global agreement banning the use, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines, which 160+ countries have ratified or acceded to.
Why the Change of Heart?
With Russia's aggressive tactics along its 1,340-kilometer border, Finland finds itself in a dire predicament. Landmines are potentially vital in defending the country's expansive, rugged terrain, making Finland the sixth EU nation to leave the treaty, following the footsteps of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
Russia, not a signatory to the Ottawa Treaty, continues to use landmines indiscriminately. The latest example of this callous approach occurred during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, turning it into the most mine-laden nation on the planet, according to analysts.
Despite criticism from the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Finland's Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen maintains that the government and parliament have a duty to protect the nation against the Russian threat. The minister designates "Russia's imperialist nature as the root cause for the shift in defense policies."
Countries like the US, China, India, Pakistan, and South Korea have refrained from joining the accord. NATO estimates that over 110 million landmines remain active in nearly 70 countries and territories, posing a significant threat to civilians even decades after being buried. Startling figures suggest that at least 5,757 people were killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ammunition in 2023, the vast majority of them civilians.
As Finland moves to exit the treaty, it will be allowed to stockpile landmines six months after notifying the United Nations. The next challenge then becomes ensuring that these weapons are handled with extreme care and used only when necessary.
Politics and war-and-conflicts are at the forefront as Finland decides to withdraw from the Anti-Landmine Treaty, a move encouraged by Russia's aggressive tactics, particularly in light of its invasion of Ukraine. This general news development follows Finland's parliament's vote in favor of exiting the Ottawa Treaty, the global agreement banning the production, use, and transfer of anti-personnel mines.
