Finland Moves to Exit Landmine Ban Treaty Amid Russia Tensions

Finland has officially begun the process of withdrawing from the 1997 Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel landmines, citing growing military threats from Russia and the need to reinforce its eastern border, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

The Finnish government submitted a formal withdrawal proposal to parliament on Wednesday, following a political decision taken in April. The shift underscores rising anxiety over Russian aggression, especially with Finland now guarding over 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) of NATO’s land frontier with Moscow.

Finland, which joined NATO in 2023, has been one of Ukraine’s top military supporters since Russia's 2021 full-scale invasion.

Regional Trend: Poland and Baltics Lead the Way

The Finnish decision aligns with moves made in March by Poland and the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—whose defense ministers jointly recommended exiting the Ottawa Convention to reintroduce landmines as part of their deterrence strategy.

While Norway, another Russian-bordering NATO member and Ottawa Treaty signatory, has stated it will not follow suit, Finland's choice signals a major shift in Northern Europe's arms control posture.

Clash Report

Withdrawal Process and Strategic Outlook

Exiting the treaty requires a three-step procedure: parliamentary approval, presidential confirmation by Alexander Stubb, and the formal handover of the withdrawal notice to the UN Secretary-General.

Defense analysts note that Finland’s decision is part of a broader strategy that includes raising defense spending and hardening territorial defenses as NATO's eastern flank faces new realities in the post-Ukraine war security architecture.