Finland seeks one million anti-personnel mines amid Russian threat concerns

Finland is seeking to acquire one million anti-personnel mines as it moves to strengthen its border defences amid concern over Russia. Officials are gathering information from suppliers and want domestic production if possible, according to a senior Army Command officer. The plan comes after Finland withdrew from the Ottawa Convention, the treaty banning anti-personnel mines.

Colonel Riku Mikkonen said officials are now assessing supplier options for the deal. He said Finnish companies would be preferred, with contracts potentially signed by the end of 2027 and production beginning in 2028. He also said buying the mines from abroad has not been ruled out at this stage.

The reported procurement is valued at 100 million euros, or about $112 million. Finland joined the Ottawa Convention in 2012, but announced its withdrawal in April 2025 and stopped being bound by the treaty in January. The move reflects a broader shift in security policy in the region after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Finland shares a border of about 1,340 kilometres with Russia, and officials have described Moscow as a long-term threat. The decision also follows similar withdrawals by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, which cited the risk posed by Russia. Those countries have also been among the strongest supporters of Ukraine since the war began.

Finland has already increased its defences since 2022 and has reported incidents involving migrants being pushed across from the east. The landmine plan therefore sits within a wider pattern of regional military caution and border security measures. The Ottawa Convention was designed to eliminate anti-personnel landmines and destroy existing stockpiles, and Finland's exit marks a significant reversal from that framework.

Supporters of the treaty argue that mines pose long-term risks to civilians even after conflicts end. Finnish officials, however, are now prioritising deterrence and domestic readiness in a more hostile security environment. What remains unclear is which suppliers may be chosen and whether Finland will ultimately rely on domestic production or imports.

It is also not yet known how quickly the procurement process will move beyond information gathering. The next key milestones are expected to be contract decisions by the end of 2027 and any production start in 2028.

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