INTERVIEW – Russia’s actions catalyst for landmine treaty withdrawal: Finnish under-secretary of state

• Europe’s security is ‘combined with the commitment from Washington,’ stresses Holopainen

Finland’s decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty was shaped by the deteriorating security environment caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine, Finnish Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy Outi Holopainen said on Sunday.

Speaking to Anadolu at the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Holopainen emphasized that the move “was not an easy decision” but was driven by national security concerns.

“Finland is definitely a country that wants to uphold international law and the rules-based international order,” Holopainen said, noting Helsinki’s long-standing role in disarmament and arms control efforts.

However, she said the reality of sharing a 1,340-kilometer (833-mile) border with Russia—currently engaged in a full-scale war with another neighbor—forced Finland to reassess its position.

She pointed to Russia’s non-participation in the treaty, saying Finland had to evaluate “what is the balance and what is the national interest” under current conditions.

Describing the regional environment as increasingly fragile, she said: “The situation in our neighborhood is so severe that we have to withdraw,” stressing that Finland currently has no landmines deployed and aims to avoid risks to civilians.

She added that consultations with allies were smooth, noting there had been “a very open and direct dialogue with all our NATO allies,” and there were no major objections.

NATO question: Europe must shoulder more responsibility

On Europe’s security future, Holopainen said discussions around strengthening the European pillar within NATO are both necessary and timely.

She said that within NATO, security is a shared responsibility among all member states, and that this collective approach ultimately makes the alliance stronger.

“In Europe, we need to have more responsibility for our own security. We need to invest more in our defense,” she noted.

She further added: “This is combined with the commitment from Washington, with the American commitment to European security. This is the combination that makes the transatlantic bond very strong.”

Finland-Türkiye ties: Defense cooperation gains momentum

Holopainen also pointed to growing defense cooperation between Finland and Türkiye, following a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries’ defense forces last year.

“There is now a very good basis for further cooperation. We see that there is so much happening in the defense industry … Our industries can cooperate in a way that is mutually beneficial,” she said, adding that Finnish delegations are expected to visit Türkiye in the near future.

She further praised the Antalya Diplomacy Forum as a valuable platform for global dialogue, highlighting its diverse participation and the importance of informal discussions amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

She said that amid growing global instability and rapidly shifting geopolitical dynamics, countries must rely on one another to make sense of developments and safeguard their security.