Finnish parliament votes to exit landmines treaty due to Russia threat

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto speaks during the State Opening of Parliament in Helsinki, Finland February 7, 2024. Lehtikuva/Emmi Korhonen via REUTERS/File Photo

HELSINKI (Reuters) -Finland's parliament voted on Thursday in favour of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention that bans the use of anti-personnel landmines amid concerns over a military threat posed by neighbouring Russia.

Finland joins other European Union and NATO members bordering Russia - Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland - in leaving or planning to leave the treaty, as fears grow about their much larger neighbour.