Finland Set to Reintroduce Anti-Personnel Landmines
In a significant shift in military policy, Finland is poised to reintroduce anti-personnel landmines following its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which strictly prohibits their use.
The Finnish government’s decision to sever ties with the treaty will officially come into effect this Saturday. This move, announced on July 10 of last year, aligns Finland with similar actions by neighboring countries including Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland.
According to the convention’s stipulations, a nation’s withdrawal takes place six months after the United Nations Secretary-General acknowledges the formal notification of denunciation.
Finland has articulated its rationale for this controversial decision, emphasizing a perceived decline in its security landscape. The exit from the treaty now permits the country to incorporate anti-personnel landmines back into its military strategy, raising important questions about the potential implications for regional stability and humanitarian considerations.