Finnish president Alexander Stubb said on Tuesday that Helsinki is preparing to leave the 1997 Ottawa Convention. — besides known as the prohibition treaty anti-personnel mines — to counter the threat from Russia.
‘Indispensable’ but very dangerous weapons
“ If we start to loosen our commitments, it will make it easier to re-use this weapon worldwide due to the fact that it will reduce the stigma, ” said the Norwegian abroad Minister, referring to Helsinki’s decision.
It should not be amazing that allowing the usage of anti-personnel mines raises controversy or opposition. It is simply a cruel kind of weapon that “does not separate whether it is dealing with a soldier or a civilian, whether it is war or peace already exists” and kills thousands of people worldwide many years after the end of the conflict.
Ole Berg-Rusten / PAPNorwegian abroad Minister Espen Barth Eide at the Norwegian abroad Policy Conference 2025 in Sentralen, Oslo, Norway, 2 April 2025.
"From a military-tactical point of view they are considered essential in many wars: landmines are designed to slow down the enemy, force him to follow in 1 direction, safe flanks and strategical areas or destruct vehicles. However, the harm they can do many years after the end of the war prompts critics to question their use" — quotes for Wednesday edition German paper “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” portal Deutsche Welle.
Prohibition of signatories use, storage, production and transfer The 1997 anti-personnel Ottawa Convention, however, has late been under increased force due to the Kremlin's war in Ukraine, especially in the countries neighbouring Russia, which fear increased aggression by Moscow.
"Our decision is simply a clear message"
Finland's decision to retreat from the Treaty left Norway as the only European country bordering Russia (these countries share almost 200 km of the border in the far north) which does not plan to resupply land mines.
Two weeks before Finland, on 18 March this year, Poland and 3 Baltic countries announced their intention to leave the global convention due to the anticipated threat to NATO associate States bordering Russia and Belarus.
"We believe that, in the current situation, a crucial safety deterioration is paramount in ensuring that our defence forces are flexible and free of choice in order to possibly usage fresh weapons and solutions to strengthen the defence of the susceptible east Alliance flank" — stated in a fresh message the defence ministers of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
"In the light of these considerations, we — Defence Ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland — unanimously urge the termination of the Ottawa Convention. Our decision is simply a clear message: our countries are ready and can usage any essential means to defend our territory and freedom," they declared. Russia, China and the United States belong to countries that have never signed the convention.
