Poland, Baltic States Withdraw From Treaty On Banning Anti-Personnel Mines

• 18.03.2025, 13:41

They say the situation on the border with Belarus has deteriorated.

Defence Ministers of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have released a joint statement recommending the denunciation of the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines. The statement was published on 18 March on the Polish government website.

The ministers explained their intention by the deteriorating security situation in the region, in particular the growing threat against NATO member states that border Russia and Belarus.

‘In light of this precarious security situation, marked by Russia's aggression and the constant threat it poses to the Euro-Atlantic community, it is crucial to identify all measures that can contribute to strengthening our deterrence and defence capabilities,’ the statement said.

Therefore, they believe that ‘in the current security environment,’ it is crucial to give the armed forces ‘flexibility and choice regarding the potential use of modern weapon systems and solutions to strengthen the defence of the Alliance's eastern flank.’