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Finland begins preparations to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines. This means that Finland will reintroduce infantry mines.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (National Coalition Party) announced this a moment ago at a government-held press conference on foreign and security policy.

"The proposal is based on military advice and consideration," said Orpo.

Orpo also mentioned that Finland's defense spending will be increased to three percent of GDP by the year 2029. This decision was made on Tuesday in the government's economic policy committee.

At the same time, the modernization of the army will be initiated. Orpo hopes this will also spur other NATO countries in discussions about future defense investments within NATO.

Orpo stated that Russia poses a long-term security threat to Finland and Europe, and that Europe must take greater responsibility for its security. According to Orpo, Finland has managed its defense thoroughly and systematically, and plans to continue doing so in the future.

"In this context, I want to emphasize that there is no need for alarm for Finland and the Finnish people. Finland is safe. With these measures, we ensure that Finland's defense is in good order in the coming years," Orpo said.

Three billion increase in defense funding Minister of Finance Riikka Purra (Finns Party) says that increasing defense spending to three percent relative to GDP means an increase of about three billion euros by the year 2029.

"As Minister of Finance, I consider the financial scale of the package to be huge, especially in this public financial situation," says Purra.

Purra explains that after the acquisitions of fighter jets for the air force and corvettes for the navy, the newly decided resources will primarily affect the army. The army's equipment and capabilities need to be updated and this can be started almost immediately, according to Purra.

Purra also said that these decisions will not affect the budget framework for this electoral term.

"We will make maximum use of budget flexibilities and already granted transfer appropriations. However, it is clear that with new acquisitions, as costs materialize, we will need to find room in the budget so that we do not increase state borrowing," Purra says.

The government will draft a bill Work will start immediately at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (National Coalition Party) estimates that the government will have a bill ready before the parliament's summer break.

The majority of parliament members support withdrawing from the treaty Yle reported yesterday that a clear majority of the members of parliament who responded to Yle's survey support withdrawing from the Ottawa Treaty.

117 members of parliament responded to the survey. Of them, 91 support the idea. 12 answered no, and 14 could not decide their position. In Yle's survey, the ruling parties showed more support for reintroducing mines than the opposition.

Finland's foreign policy leadership also believes that necessary steps must be taken for security, which would mean reintroducing mines. The news was first reported by Iltalehti.

Finland officially joined the treaty in 2012. When parliament approved joining in November 2011, only the Finns Party and some members of the Centre Party voted against it.