Editorial & Advertiser disclosure
Global Banking and Finance Review is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.
Finland to acquire anti-personnel landmines and start training staff
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 14, 2026
Finland’s Military Strategy on Landmines
HELSINKI, Jan 14 (Reuters) – Finland’s military will initiate the acquisition of anti-personnel landmines and start training staff, conscripts and reservists to use them later this year, it said on Wednesday, after the country’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention that bans their usage took effect on January 10.
Finland and other European Union and NATO members bordering Russia – Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland – decided to leave the Ottawa treaty amid concerns over the military threat posed by Russia.
Russia has used landmines in its invasion of Ukraine, and in July accused Ukraine of doing so too, after Ukraine announced its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention.
Acquisition and Training Timeline
In Finland, talks with the domestic defence industry and anti-personnel landmine training for military personnel will start early this year.
Collaboration with Defence Industry
“The goal is to have the first new mines and their exercise equipment available in the course of 2027,” the country’s Defence Forces said in a statement.
“New anti-personnel mines are intended to be developed in cooperation with the domestic defence industry with a further goal of manufacturing them in Finland.”
Usage Conditions for Landmines
Finland does not plan to lay anti-personnel mines on the ground in peacetime.
“We will use mines only in emergency conditions,” said Colonel Riku Mikkonen, Inspector of Engineers for the Army Command.
(Reporting by Anne Kauranen in Helsinki, editing by Ed Osmond)