Poland and the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—have announced plans to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines, citing escalating security threats from Russia and Belarus.
In a joint statement, the four countries’ defence ministers stressed the need to provide their troops with “flexibility and freedom of choice” to defend NATO’s eastern flank. They argued that since signing the treaty, regional security had “significantly deteriorated,” making it necessary to reconsider their stance on landmine deployment.
The Ottawa Treaty, formally known as the Mine Ban Treaty, was established in 1997 and has been signed by more than 160 countries. However, major military powers like China, India, Russia, Pakistan, and the United States never ratified it. While all the Baltic states joined by 2005, Poland became a signatory in 2012.
Despite their plans to leave the treaty, Poland and the Baltic nations reaffirmed their commitment to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians during armed conflicts. “Our nations will continue to uphold these principles while addressing our security needs,” the statement read.
All four countries share borders with Russia and have significantly increased military spending since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Kiel Institute reports that, in terms of GDP percentage, the Baltic states and Poland rank among the highest donors of aid to Ukraine.
Ukraine itself is a signatory to the Ottawa Treaty, though it has received landmines from the US as part of its war effort against Russia. The country has previously informed the UN that, due to the invasion, it cannot fully guarantee compliance with the treaty. The UN now estimates Ukraine to be the most heavily mined nation in the world.
Under Article 20 of the Ottawa Treaty, a country cannot withdraw from the agreement if it is actively engaged in war. While Poland and the Baltic states are not currently at war, their decision to leave the treaty signals an increasing willingness to adopt stronger defensive measures as tensions with Russia continue to rise.
Melissa Enoch
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