A citizens' initiative calling for Finland's withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty banning the use of anti-personnel mines has been handed over to Parliament for consideration.
The initiative, which was launched on Independence Day, 6 December, collected the required 50,000 signatures within four days.
According to the group that launched the initiative, the purpose is to encourage Parliament to initiate the necessary legislative preparations for Finland's withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty, also known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.
Lawmakers are not expected to begin consideration of the initiative until next year.
Meanwhile, Professor of Law Veli-Pekka Viljanen and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Timo Tuovinen argued in the daily Helsingin Sanomat that a citizens' initiative to withdraw from the Ottawa Agreement cannot be considered in Parliament.
Re-evaluation of anti-personnel mines in the final stretch
In early 2025, the Defence Administration is to complete a study on the need for anti-personnel mines.
Last Friday, President Alexander Stubb and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy (Utva) discussed another study commissioned by the Defence Administration on supplementing the capabilities of the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF). It examined the significance of anti-personnel mines for Finland's defence from the perspective of today's threat scenarios.
At the meeting, foreign policy leaders finalised and approved the government's defence report, which is to be presented to Parliament on Thursday.
Kaskeala: Anti-personnel mines have evolved
Admiral Juhani Kaskeala, former Chief of Defence of the FDF and one of the initiators of the citizens' initiative, rejects arguments that anti-personnel mines are outdated as defensive weapons.
"I do believe that advanced versions of anti-personnel mines have a future. The new anti-personnel mines have a self-destruct mechanism. They can be better controlled [as to] how long they are effective and pose a threat to invaders," Kaskeala said.
Kaskeala stressed that mines are only used against invaders.
"Finland defends its border, and whoever comes across the border with hostile intent will step on the mines, not Finns," he said.
Henri Vanhanen, a foreign and security policy expert and author who launched the citizens' initiative, said that the use of anti-personnel mines is not aimed at increasing tensions, but rather as a deterrent.
"When our military deterrence is in order, we reduce the likelihood of military threats against us," Vanhanen said.
Organisers: Mines needed again due to Russian aggression
Backers of the initiative say that the mine issue has become timely and urgent due to Russia's aggressive actions, and mines are again needed to strengthen Finland's defence capabilities.
The initiative notes that when Finland joined the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines in 2012, its geopolitical situation was fundamentally different from today.
"A war started by our neighbour Russia is raging in Europe, with Russia is ruthlessly using anti-personnel mines against Ukraine. Finland is now defending Nato's longest land border with Russia," it says. Finland and Russia have a land border of nearly 1,300 kilometres.
"These are essential changes from the point of view of international treaty law. Based on them, Finland, as a sovereign state, can withdraw from the Ottawa Convention within six months if it wishes, without violating international law," the initiative asserts.
Last month, Stubb said that Finland will evaluate the potential reintroduction of landmines.