Finland Withdraws from Ottawa Landmine Treaty over Security Concerns

Finland has officially notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention, with the withdrawal set to take effect in January 2026. This move aligns Finland with several neighboring NATO and EU countries, including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland, who have also withdrawn due to heightened security threats from Russia. Finland, which signed the treaty in 2012, cited deteriorating regional security and the need to strengthen its defense capabilities as the primary reasons for the withdrawal, allowing it to reintroduce anti-personnel mines into its arsenal. Both Finland and Lithuania plan to begin domestic production of these landmines next year to meet their defense needs. Despite the withdrawal, Finland has stated it will continue to support the humanitarian goals of the treaty, although the decision is expected to attract criticism from humanitarian organizations. Finnish President Alexander Stubb acknowledged such criticism but emphasized the necessity of the decision given the current security environment and Finland's long border with Russia.