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Landmines are a “necessary component” of Finland’s defence but will be used “in a responsible manner”, the country’s ambassador to Australia has said.
In an exclusive interview with Defence Connect, ambassador Arto Haapea said Russia’s war on Ukraine was part of the decision last year to leave the 1997 Ottawa Convention against anti-personnel mines, with the withdrawal taking effect earlier this year.
“We were part of the convention that forbade landmine use. We gave a notification some time ago that we were leaving that convention,” he said.
“Finland is no longer part of that convention because of the security environment in Europe, and because we actually do see landmines as a necessary component of our defence.
“We have a 1,300-kilometre border with Russia, and we have seen from what our Ukrainian friends have had to defend against that we do need this tool in our toolbox.
“We will always use it in a responsible manner. We will never target civilians with our landmines, but as I said, we do need to have that the ability to use landmines as part of our defence.”
Finland announced its exit from the Ottawa Convention on 10 July 2025, and officially left the treaty on 10 January 2026.
At the time, the Finnish government said the withdrawal was “based on Finland’s defence needs in the deteriorated security environment”.
“The withdrawal from the Convention will enable Finland to reintroduce anti-personnel mines to the range of its available means of defence,” it said last July.
“The withdrawal will not affect Finland’s other obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, which will continue to be respected.
“Finland will continue its support for the humanitarian goals of the Ottawa Convention, as well as support for humanitarian mine action.”
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia also last year announced their intention to withdraw from the treaty, alongside Ukraine; the three Baltic states made their withdrawal effective December last year, while Poland left effective 20 February this year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree to leave the treaty on 29 June 2025.
Russia, along with the USA and China, is not a signatory to the Ottawa Convention.
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