Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are reportedly considering a withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use, production, and transfer of landmines.
The NATO member states cited the need to bolster deterrence and defense capabilities amid a rising threat from Russia and Belarus.
“We must prepare for the fact that Russia will continue to pose a threat to the region regardless of how hostilities in Ukraine develop,” stated Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds. “Withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention has the potential to ensure the production of anti-personnel mines.”
The Lithuanian Defense Ministry published a similar statement on its website on Monday.
Poland’s Ministry of Defense also backed the proposal, citing a significant deterioration in the regional security situation since the treaty was ratified.
Meanwhile, Estonia’s public broadcaster ERR reported that the four ministries issued a joint statement advocating for the move.
“We believe that in the current security environment, it is paramount to provide our defense forces flexibility and freedom of choice to potentially use new weapons systems and solutions to bolster the defense of the Alliance’s vulnerable Eastern Flank,” it read, signed by the four nations’ respective defense ministers.
The Ottawa Convention, which came into effect in 1999, prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines and has been ratified by approximately 160 countries. However, major military powers such as the United States, Russia, and China have not signed the treaty.
“It is not right that we are prohibiting ourselves from using weapons that Russia is prepared to use against us,” noted Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna. “Our neighbor Russia is an aggressor who is and remains the most serious security threat to not just Estonia but to all of Europe.”
Legislation to pave the way for withdrawal is being drafted in Latvia which will be put to lawmakers in the near future. Public broadcaster LSM reports the law could come into effect within six months.
“Allies have expressed understanding of Latvia’s possible withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention and have confirmed further cooperation in the field of defense. The Ministry of Defense notes that information exchange with allies will continue during the withdrawal process,” read a statement from the country’s defense ministry.
All statements expressed the respective nations’ commitment to upholding international law and protecting civilians despite the withdrawal; however, the move could result in increased military fortifications and result in thousands of square kilometers of land being rendered inhospitable, as has been seen in Ukraine.
Despite being a signatory to the Ottawa Convention, Kyiv has largely ignored its obligations due to the ongoing conflict. A report published in September last year by Ukraine’s Economy Ministry and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change estimated that 174,000 square kilometers of Ukraine’s territory is contaminated by landmines, making it the most heavily mined country in the world.
The contamination has significant financial consequences too with the wasteland estimated to cost more than €33 billion to demine effectively — a process that could take over a decade to complete.
