In a significant move, Poland and the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have declared their intention to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which prohibits anti-personnel mines, in light of heightened security concerns from Russia and Belarus.
Poland and Baltic States Announce Withdrawal from Landmine Treaty Amid Security Threats
Poland and Baltic States Announce Withdrawal from Landmine Treaty Amid Security Threats
Poland and its Baltic neighbors are set to exit a vital anti-landmine treaty, citing increased dangers from Russia.
Poland and the Baltic states have issued a joint statement outlining their decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, citing heightened security threats from Russia and Belarus as the driving force behind their plans. The defence ministers from these nations, which are all NATO members and share borders with Russia, emphasized the need for greater "flexibility and freedom of choice" in military operations.
The Ottawa Treaty, operational since 1997, aims to ban the use of anti-personnel mines globally and has over 160 signatory nations. However, major military powers including Russia and the United States did not sign the treaty. The Baltic states had ratified it by 2005, and Poland followed suit in 2012.
The ministers noted that the regional security landscape has "significantly deteriorated" since the treaty's enactment. They asserted, "In light of these considerations, we... unanimously recommend withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention," signaling a commitment to taking necessary measures to protect their sovereignty.
Despite their withdrawal, the nations reaffirmed adherence to international humanitarian laws, emphasizing the importance of civilian protection during armed conflicts. Since the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland and its Baltic allies have drastically increased their military budgets and provided substantial aid to Ukraine, which, despite being a signatory to the treaty, has faced challenges in complying due to ongoing conflicts.
Interestingly, Article 20 of the Ottawa Treaty stipulates that a withdrawal cannot occur if a nation is at war, raising questions about the legal implications of this planned exit. According to UN estimates, Ukraine has become the most mined country in the world due to the ongoing conflict, highlighting the dire ramifications of such military strategies on civilian safety.
