Baltic States & Poland Plan Exit From Anti-Personnel Land Mine Ban
The governments of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland announced Tuesday plans to withdraw from the international treaty banning the stockpiling and use of anti-personnel land mines.
Prior to the announcement of the four nations’ withdrawal, the Mine Ban Treaty (also known as the Ottawa Treaty) had 165 State Parties that have ratified it and complied with its requirements to stop manufacturing, stockpiling, transfer, and use of anti-personnel land mines, per the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. However, the United States, Russia, China and India among others are not parties to the treaty.
“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 defence capabilities”, said the defense ministers of all four nations in a joint statement. “We believe that in the current security environment it is of paramount importance to provide our defence forces with flexibility and freedom of choice of potential use of new weapons systems and solutions to bolster the defence of the Alliance’s vulnerable Eastern Flank”.
“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 our withdrawal, we will remain committed to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians during an armed conflict. Our nations will continue to uphold these principles while addressing our security needs.”
In a separate statement, Estonian defence minister Hanno Pevkur said that Estonia would not acquire anti-personnel land mines for the time being, as the commander of the Estonian Defence Forces assessed that there was “no need” for their use. “Throughout the entire discussion on anti-personnel landmines, we have adhered to the principle that decisions regarding the Ottawa Convention should be made in solidarity and coordination within the region. At the same time, we currently have no plans to develop, stockpile, or use previously banned anti-personnel landmines. In acquiring military capabilities, we will continue to be guided by the needs and requests of the Estonian Defence Forces”.
No further details on the planned withdrawal were provided, with Estonia saying that its foreign ministry has been tasked with coordinating the next steps of the withdrawal process. According to the Red Cross, withdrawal from the Mine Ban Treaty will take effect six months after an “instrument of withdrawal” is delivered to the treaty’s depositary, the Secretary General of the United Nations.