Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia intend to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines. This is necessary due to the military threat from Russia, which has not joined the convention.
This was announced in a joint statement by the defense ministers of the four countries.
As emphasized in the statement, the security situation in the region has significantly worsened, and the military threats to NATO member states bordering Russia and Belarus have greatly increased.
In the current security conditions, it is critically important to provide the armed forces with flexibility and the ability to choose regarding the potential use of modern weapon systems and solutions to strengthen the defense of the eastern flank of the Alliance, which is under threat, the ministers stated.
"In light of these considerations, we – the Defense Ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland – unanimously recommend the denunciation of the Ottawa Convention. Our decision is a clear message: our countries are ready and able to use any necessary means to defend our territory and freedom. Despite withdrawing from the Convention, we remain committed to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians during armed conflicts. Our countries will continue to adhere to these principles while safeguarding our security," the statement said.
