Finland is moving to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the decision comes as a direct response to growing aggression from Russia.
“Russia is behaving increasingly aggressively. We must be ready to defend ourselves by any means”, Orpo stated.
Following its NATO accession and amid the war in Ukraine, Finland is considering a return to WWII-era defense strategies. Anti-personnel mines were a key factor in repelling Soviet invasions in 1939, 1941, and 1944.
If even neutral, peace-minded Finland begins laying minefields, it’s a stark warning for the rest of Europe.
