The topic of anti-personnel landmines resurfaced on Saturday, despite Finland having banned their use 12 years ago.
Janne Jaakkola, General of the Finnish Defence Forces, told commercial broadcaster MTV that Finland should be open to discussing anti-personnel landmines.
Jaakkola argued that the security environment has changed significantly since Finland in 2012 joined the Ottawa Convention prohibiting the use of landmines.
He stated that Russia's large-scale ground force deployments in Ukraine highlight how Finland should adapt to counter military threats.
In talking to MTV, Jaakkola did not take a position on whether Finland should withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, as such a decision is political. He did, however, suggest more public discourse not only on anti-personnel landmines but also on new defence technologies.
Speaking on Yle's Ykkösaamu program on Saturday, Hiski Haukkala, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), agreed with Jaakkola's call for discussion, emphasising that landmines are an effective weapons system.
The Ottawa Convention prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines.