The defense ministers of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania recommend that their countries withdraw from the international treaty banning anti-personnel mines.
The Ottawa Convention of 1997 is a convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction. It has been signed and ratified by 164 states. Russia, China, India and many other Asian states have not joined, nor has the USA.
“The military threats to the countries bordering Russia and Belarus and NATO-member states bordering Russia and Belarus have increased significantly,” reads a statement published by the four countries on Tuesday.
“We believe that in the current security environment, it is of utmost importance to provide our defense forces with flexibility and freedom of choice to potentially deploy new weapon systems and solutions to strengthen the defense of the Alliance’s vulnerable eastern flank,” it continues.
The recommendation makes withdrawal likely.
At the beginning of the month, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared that Poland would take steps to withdraw from the treaty. The four countries had been thinking about leaving for a long time and wanted to make a joint, regional decision.
This is a political signal to Moscow and not an immediate military necessity.
“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 deploy previously banned anti-personnel mines,” said Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.
Earlier this month, Latvia’s Chief of the Defense Staff, Major General Kaspars Pudāns, told Politico that the country’s priorities remain anti-tank mines and artillery shells.
In Finland, the NATO/EU country with the longest border with Russia (almost 1,272 kilometers), Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen confirms that Helsinki is also considering withdrawing from the treaty.
