Overview

• Finland confirmed plans to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, citing a fundamentally altered security environment due to Russia's actions.
• The decision, supported by Finland's parliament, will take effect six months after parliamentary approval is granted.
• Prime Minister Petteri Orpo emphasized that withdrawing from the treaty allows Finland to better prepare for evolving security challenges.
• Finland will increase its defense spending to at least 3% of GDP by 2029, up from 2.4% in 2024, as part of a broader military strategy reform.
• Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have also announced similar withdrawals, reflecting a regional shift in defense priorities.