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Citing Russian threat, Baltic and Polish defense ministers want out of anti-landmine treaty
“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,” the joint statement reads.
A Ukrainian de-mining sapper who gave the name Pavlo demonstrates how Russian forces place an anti-personnel mine on top of a fragmentation grenade on July 31, 2023. (Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — The defense ministers of the Baltic nations and Poland said today that the threat presented by Russia is so great that it’s time their countries pull out of a treaty that bans the use or stockpiling of anti-personnel mines.
“We believe that in the current security environment it is of paramount importance to provide our defense forces with flexibility and freedom of choice of potential use of new weapon systems and solutions to bolster the defense of the [NATO] Alliance’s Eastern Flank,” reads the joint communique.
The top officials said that 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.”
The Ottawa Convention, a thankfully shortened version of its formal name The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, was proposed in the late 1990s and has been signed by 133 nations — part of a worldwide effort to protect civilians from encountering the weapons long after the conflicts for which they were meant had ended.
RELATED: Clearing Ukrainian land of dangerous mines, ordinance will take decades, EOD firm says
“Despite our withdrawal, we will remain committed to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians during an armed conflict,” the joint statement says. “Our nations will continue to uphold these principles while addressing our security needs.”
The US is not a signatory to the convention, as Washington supports South Korea’s use of landmines in the demilitarized zone between it and North Korea. During his first administration President Donald Trump loosened the rules for US use of “nonpersistent” versions of the mines worldwide, according to the Congressional Research Service [PDF]. The Biden administration gave Ukraine anti-personnel mines to assist in their defense against Russian forces.
The European defense ministers’ call today comes amid a wave of worry in NATO capitals close to the Russian border about what Russian President Vladimir Putin will do with his large, battle-hardened army and war-oriented economy if a ceasefire in Ukraine comes to pass.
“A lot will depend on what the peace talks” deliver, but 500,000 experienced Russian troops will be unlikely to want to return to civilian life earning $100 a month, Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s minister of defense and a signatory to today’s letter, told Breaking Defense at the Munich Security Conference in February.
In a series of interviews in 2024, defense leaders in northern Europe all expressed concerned that a “window” was closing during which they had time to deter or, if necessary, prepare to fight off a Russian invasion.
RELATED: Ticking clock: Northern NATO defense chiefs see ever-closing ‘window’ to prepare for Russia
In addition to the potential land mine move, the Baltic nations previously agreed to develop a new, sprawling bunker system in order to better confront any Russian invading force, though that effort is years away from completion.
In Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, a key lawmaker said today the Baltic and Polish defense ministers’ call is a “wise” one.
“It is important that all NATO countries can assess their defence capabilities in accordance with the prevailing threat situation,” Jukka Kopra, chairman of the defense committee in the Finnish parliament, said in a statement provided to Breaking Defense. “The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that in a prolonged conflict, there is a risk that substitute capabilities may be exhausted, and simple weapons are needed. It is crucial that national defence forces have a broad range of tools available when necessary.”
The statement indicated that a similar move will be the subject of debate in Helsinki in coming weeks.
