| Airbornelawyer |
03-18-2025 15:15 |
NATO Northeast flank withdraws from treaty on anti-personnel mines
Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have announced their withdrawal from the treaty on anti-personnel mines. All four share borders with Russia. Of the other NATO members who border Russia, Finland is also considering withdrawing from the convention. I haven't heard anything about Norway, but Norwegian politics is dominated by the kind of people who make the Democrats seem like raging right-wingers, so I don't expect much. FWIW, neither the USA nor Russia are signatories.
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Since ratifying the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention), the security situation in our region has fundamentally deteriorated. Military threats to NATO Member States bordering Russia and Belarus have significantly increased. In light of this unstable security environment—marked by Russia’s aggression and its ongoing threat to the Euro-Atlantic community—it is essential to evaluate all measures to strengthen our deterrence and defense capabilities.
We believe that in the current security environment it is paramount to provide our defence forces flexibility and freedom of choice to potentially use new weapons systems and solutions to bolster the defence of the Alliance’s vulnerable Eastern Flank.
In light of these considerations, we—the Ministers of Defence of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland—unanimously recommend withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention. With this decision, we are sending a clear message: our countries are prepared and can use every necessary measure to defend our territory and freedom.
Despite withdrawing, we will remain committed to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians during armed conflict. Our nations will continue to uphold these principles while addressing our security needs.
We appreciate the understanding and support of all Allies and partners who recognize the dire security challenges we are facing and respect our decision in this matter.
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https://www.gov.pl/web/national-defe...awa-convention
From the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense ( https://kam.lt/en/lithuania-withdraw...an-convention/):
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On March 18 at 9 a.m. (Vilnius time), Lithuania, Poland, Latvia and Estonia announced their withdrawal from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention). Military threats to the countries bordering Russia and Belarus have significantly increased over the past years, that requires strengthening deterrence and defence capabilities.
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From the Latvian Ministry of Defense ( https://www.mod.gov.lv/en/news/minis...awa-convention):
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Due to changing regional security and Latvia's defence needs, after consultations with allies, and in order to show solidarity and unity with other countries in the region, the Ministry of Defence of Republic of Latvia proposes Latvia’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, following similar decisions from Estonia, Lithuania and Poland.
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Estonian Ministry statement: https://www.kaitseministeerium.ee/en...awa-convention |
