Finland has joined other European Union and NATO member states bordering Russia-namely Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland-in either exiting or announcing intentions to exit the Ottawa Treaty, amid growing concerns over their increasingly assertive eastern neighbor, APA reports citing TVP WORLD.
President Alexander Stubb, who heads Finland’s foreign and security policy, defended the move during a statement on Tuesday.
"The reality, ultimately, is that we share a border with an aggressive, imperialist state called Russia—one that is not a signatory to the Ottawa Treaty and uses landmines without restraint," he said.
The decision comes in response to Russia’s widespread deployment of landmines during its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Finland's withdrawal follows similar legislative actions in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, where national parliaments have already approved the exit from the treaty.
The Finnish decision follows similar votes in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, where parliaments have already approved the withdrawal.
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