Defence concerns drive Finland to exit Ottawa mine treaty

Finland’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines, officially came into effect on January 10, allowing the country to reintroduce such mines into its military arsenal.

The Finnish government formally renounced the treaty on July 10, 2025, following similar decisions by Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland. Under the convention’s provisions, a withdrawal takes effect six months after the United Nations secretary-general receives the instrument of denunciation, Yle reports.

Finland cited defence concerns as the primary reason for its departure, pointing to a deteriorating security environment in the region. Officials noted that leaving the treaty provides the country with greater flexibility in its national defence strategy, including the reintroduction of anti-personnel landmines if deemed necessary.

The move has raised concerns among arms control advocates, who argue that it could undermine regional norms against the use of landmines and potentially trigger similar withdrawals by other states.

By Vafa Guliyeva