On 19 June 2025, Finland’s Parliament voted to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, known as the Mine Ban Treaty, which prohibited the use, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. The vote passed with 157 members in favour and 18 against.
 
The decision was proposed by Finland’s government in response to the rising security concerns. The decision gained support from the majority of the ruling coalition lawmakers. Finland joined the treaty in January 2012, and the treaty came into effect in July 2012. As a signatory, Finland committed to destroying its stockpiles of landmines and refraining from their use in conflict. The country stopped using landmines after the Second World War and complied with treaty obligations until this decision.
 
The government presented a proposal to the Parliament earlier in 2025, recommending withdrawal. According to parliamentary session discussions, the withdrawal would enable the use, storage, and procurement of landmines in future defence planning, but implementation would be handled through national legislation. Parliament conducted a vote following standard legislative procedure. The decision would allow Finland to reintroduce anti-personnel landmines into its national defence policy. Following the vote, no immediate operational changes were announced following the vote. However, Finnish authorities confirmed that Finland will begin the process of withdrawing from the treaty according to international legal procedures. The withdrawal notice must be formally submitted, and the withdrawal will take effect six months after the depositary receives the notification, as per Article 20 of the Ottawa Treaty.  As of now, Finland has become one of the few EU member states to leave the Ottawa Treaty since its adoption in 1997.
 
Background to Finland signing the treaty
The Ottawa treaty, adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 1999, aimed to eliminate the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines globally. Finland signed the Ottawa Treaty in 2012 after years of deliberation. Finland initially hesitated to join due to security concerns related to its long border with Russia. However, growing international pressure made Finland agree to commit to the treaty, becoming a party in July 2012. Following the treaty, Finland began destroying its existing landmines and pledged not to use them in the future. Until it decided to withdraw in 2025, Finland upheld the treaty’s obligations.
 
References
"Finnish parliament votes to exit landmines treaty due to Russia threat," Reuters, 19 June 2025
Kieran Guilbert, "Finland's parliament votes to withdraw from landmine treaty due to Russia threat," Euronews, 19 June 2025
"Finland’s lawmakers vote to leave land mine treaty as Nordic country boosts defenses against Russia," AP News, 19 June 2025