Finland plans to withdraw from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and increase defence budget

Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has said that the country is preparing to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines to strengthen its defence capabilities.

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"Withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention will give us the opportunity to prepare more universally for changes in the security environment," Orpo said.

Finland has NATO's longest border with Russia and, after withdrawing from the 1997 convention, will be able to re-accumulate stockpiles of mines for use if necessary. Orpo stressed that there is no immediate military threat, but Russia remains a long-term threat to Europe.

In addition, Finland plans to significantly increase defence spending. By 2029, they should increase to at least 3% of GDP, which is equivalent to an increase in the defence budget by EUR 3 billion.

It should be noted that in recent months, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have withdrawn from the Ottawa Convention.

Source: Reuters