Another NATO member pulls out of landmine treaty

Finland has formally withdrawn from an international treaty that bans the use of anti-personnel landmines (APLs), the country’s Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday. It said the United Nations has been notified of the decision, which will enable the Nordic country to reintroduce landmines into its military stockpile in six months.

Drafted in 1997, the Ottawa Treaty prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of APLs due to their long-term threat to civilians. While 164 nations have ratified the treaty, major military powers such as the US, China, and Russia have not joined.

Finland acceded to the treaty in 2012, but its government began preparing to withdraw earlier this year, citing a growing security threat from Russia. Last month, the Finnish parliament overwhelmingly approved the decision.

“The decision to withdraw from the Convention is based on Finland’s defense needs in the deteriorated security environment,” the Finnish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Finland’s withdrawal comes shortly after four other NATO members – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland – announced similar decisions earlier this year. In a joint statement issued in late March, the countries cited heightened military threats from Russia as justification for the move.

The Kremlin has consistently denied any aggressive intentions toward NATO, claiming that the Ukraine conflict was provoked by the military bloc’s eastward expansion.

At the same time, Moscow has stated that it shares the goals and principles of the Ottawa Convention, but considers joining it impractical. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, “anti-personnel mines remain an effective and low-cost means of securing Russia’s borders.”