Finland and Lithuania to produce landmines after quitting Ottawa treaty

Finland and Lithuania are set to begin domestic production of anti-personnel landmines next year after announcing plans to quit the Ottawa Convention, citing the threat from Russia.

Finland and Lithuania are preparing to start producing anti-personnel landmines domestically from next year to strengthen their own defences and supply Ukraine, officials from the two NATO member states told Reuters.

The two countries, which border Russia, have declared their intention to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning the use of such mines. Production could begin once the six-month withdrawal process is completed.

Three other NATO and EU states, Poland, Latvia and Estonia, are also leaving the treaty due to security concerns over Russia’s actions in Ukraine. While they have not announced production plans, Poland and Latvia indicated they could start quickly if needed, and Estonia is keeping it as a possible future option.

Ukraine has also withdrawn from the treaty to defend itself better against Russia, which is not a party to the agreement. Both sides have accused each other of using anti-personnel mines during the war.

The moves by Finland and Lithuania reflect mounting concerns in Europe about Russia’s military ambitions beyond Ukraine, amid NATO pledges to boost defence spending in line with demands by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Lithuania’s Deputy Defence Minister Karolis Aleksa said the country would spend hundreds of millions of euros on anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. Tens of thousands, or more, would be ordered, with national industry as a key supplier. Vincas Jurgutis, head of Lithuania’s defence industry association, said the country would be in a position to supply mines to Ukraine once production is established.

Finland, which shares a 1,340 km border with Russia, also plans to produce mines domestically for its security. Heikki Autto, chair of Finland’s parliamentary defence committee, called them a highly effective and cost-efficient weapons system, adding that Finland should support Ukraine as part of its own security interests.

Before joining the Ottawa treaty in 2011, Finland held over 1 million anti-personnel landmines. Several Finnish defence companies have expressed interest in producing them, although they declined to comment publicly.

Anti-personnel mines, which can remain dangerous long after conflicts end, have drawn criticism from campaigners who warn reintroducing them will be costly and could harm civilians. However, the five NATO countries withdrawing from the treaty stress they will not create minefields during peacetime but will store the mines for quick deployment if needed.

Poland has designated zones along its eastern frontier for potential mining within days, while Estonia’s Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur described production as an option in their “back pocket”. Latvia’s defence ministry said it has the capability for production if required.

Poland’s state-owned defence group PGZ S.A. said it would be ready to produce millions of mines if needed, while private munitions maker ZSP Niewiadów plans to restart large-scale production in 2027.

The countries emphasise that any minefields will be marked and cleared after conflicts, viewing such munitions as a deterrent. “When we have them in storage, that is the best guarantee that they will never have to be used,” Autto said.

Copied