Ban lifted: Helsinki’s landmine treaty withdrawal now officially active

Finland's exit from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines has officially taken effect as of 10 January 2026, according to Yle. The move allows Finland to reintroduce landmines into its military arsenal, a decision the government says is necessary due to the deteriorating security environment.

Finland's withdrawal from landmine treaty now in force

Finland’s departure from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines, became legally effective on 10 January 2026. Yle reports that the Finnish government had formally notified the United Nations about its withdrawal on 10 July 2025. Under the treaty’s rules, the exit takes effect six months after the UN secretary-general receives the official notice. 

Officials in Finland pointed to growing security threats as justification for leaving the treaty. The decision enables Finland to reintroduce anti-personnel landmines into its military capabilities, something it could not legally do while party to the treaty. The measure mirrors similar steps taken by other countries bordering Russia and its ally Belarus, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.

Yle earlier reported that starting in 2026, the Finnish Defence Forces will gradually train conscripts in anti-personnel mine use, with the National Defence Training Association also planning similar instruction.

Some humanitarian organizations have described anti-personnel mines as an “uncivilized method of warfare.” However, Russia never joined the Ottawa Convention, giving it a military edge over countries that committed to the ban. The decision by Finland and others reflects a changing security calculus, where adhering to humanitarian agreements is now seen by some governments as a strategic risk.