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Defense ministers from Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania recommend that their countries withdraw from the international agreement banning antipersonnel mines, also known as the Ottawa Treaty.
“Military threats to NATO member states bordering Russia and Belarus have significantly increased,” said a statement released by the four countries Tuesday.
“We believe that in the current security environment it is paramount to provide our defence forces flexibility and freedom of choice to potentially use new weapons systems and solutions to bolster the defence of the alliance’s vulnerable Eastern flank,” it added.
The 1997 Ottawa Treaty has come under increasing pressure because of Moscow’s war on Ukraine, as frontline states are beefing up their borders with Russia.
Today’s recommendation makes the withdrawal likely to happen.
Earlier this month, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland would start taking steps to leave the treaty. The four countries had long mulled a withdrawal and wanted to make a joint, regional decision.
It’s a political signal to Moscow rather than the reflection of an immediate military need.
“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 use previously banned anti-personnel landmines,” Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.
Earlier this month, Latvia’s chief of the defense staff, Major General Kaspars Pudāns, told POLITICO that the country’s priorities remained anti-tank mines and artillery shells.
Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said that Helsinki is also considering leaving the treaty, but it’s not a signatory of today’s statement.
