Finland plans to buy 1 million anti-personnel mines after treaty withdrawal

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - Finland plans to purchase one million anti-personnel mines from domestic manufacturers following its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention banning the weapons, local media reported Monday.

The Finnish Defense Forces aim to have domestic production operating by 2028, with around €100 million ($112 million) earmarked for the acquisitions.

Preparations began after Finland’s withdrawal from the convention took effect in January, Col. Riku Mikkonen of the Finnish Army Command told news agency STT.

Around half a dozen companies in Finland have the capacity to manufacture mines, Mikkonen said.

Finland decided to reintroduce anti-personnel mines in response to what it called a deteriorating security environment.

Ahead of the decision, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo described Russia as a long-term threat to Finnish and European security.

The procurement plans were first reported by the Finnish Defense Forces’ magazine Ruotuvaki.

At 1,343 kilometers (834 miles), Finland has the longest border of any NATO member state with Russia.

The Soviet Union invaded Finland in November 1939. The Winter War, as it is known, lasted for over three months and despite heavy losses, the USSR won.

Necva Taştan Sevinç