Finnish Parliament Votes to Withdraw from Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty over Russian Threat

Finland's parliament has voted overwhelmingly to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines, citing growing security concerns from its aggressive neighbor, Russia. The decision, supported by 157 votes to 18, aligns Finland with other EU and NATO countries bordering Russia, such as Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland, which have also denounced the treaty recently. Finnish officials, including President Alexander Stubb and Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen, emphasize that the withdrawal aims to enhance national defense and protect civilians by minimizing casualties in the face of potential Russian aggression. Finland, which joined NATO in 2023 and shares a long border with Russia, plans to start stockpiling anti-personnel mines six months after formally notifying treaty members and the UN. The move has raised concerns from international figures like UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the International Committee of the Red Cross, warning that such withdrawals risk reversing decades of humanitarian progress and endangering civilian lives. Despite this, Finland pledges to continue humanitarian activities related to mine mitigation even after leaving the treaty.