Another Russian neighbor state decides to withdraw from anti-personnel mine treaty
Photo: Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (Getty Images)
NATO member Finland plans to withdraw from the Ottawa convention banning anti-personnel mines and increase its overall defense spending in the coming years, Reuters reports, citing Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
Last month, Poland and the Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania - declared their intention to withdraw from the convention due to the military threat posed by neighboring Russia.
By withdrawing from the 1997 treaty, Finland, which guards NATO's longest border with Russia, could begin stockpiling mines again for use if necessary.
Orpo stated that there is no immediate military threat to his country, but Russia poses a long-term threat to all of Europe.
"Withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention will give us the possibility to prepare for the changes in the security environment in a more versatile way," the Finnish Prime Minister said.
Orpo also announced at a press conference that Finland would increase its defense spending to at least 3% of GDP by 2029, with spending expected to rise by about 3 billion euros by that time.
This statement comes amid efforts by US President Donald Trump to intensify efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine, raising concerns in Poland and the Baltic states about the possibility that Russia could rearm and strike them.
Withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which has been ratified or joined by over 160 countries, excluding Russia, would allow Finland to start producing mines again.
Lithuania and Poland have already announced plans to mine their borders with Russia.
