Lithuania Withdraws from Landmine Ban Treaty

Lithuania has formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.

The announcement marks a significant shift in regional defense policy amid rising security concerns in Eastern Europe.

According to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, the decision was driven by what he described as the growing existential threat posed by Russia. He stated that Lithuania views Moscow as the primary long-term danger to European security, prompting the need for expanded defensive capabilities.

The move follows similar signals from neighboring countries. Poland’s lower house of parliament recently approved legislation to withdraw from the treaty, with Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz calling the move essential for regional security. He emphasized that the current geopolitical landscape requires all available deterrent measures to ensure national defense.

Reports also indicate that Poland, Finland, and the Baltic states are already constructing fortified defensive lines along their borders using anti-personnel mines. Analysts have described this effort as reminiscent of a “new Iron Curtain,” designed to counter potential aggression from Russia.

On March 18, the defense ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland issued a joint recommendation urging their governments to exit the Ottawa Convention. Finland later joined this initiative, reflecting a growing consensus among NATO’s eastern flank countries on the need for greater military preparedness.

The Ottawa Treaty, which entered into force in 1999, has been signed by 164 nations, including Ukraine. The treaty prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines due to their long-term humanitarian impact. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, these weapons continue to kill and maim civilians for years after hostilities end, posing a persistent threat in post-conflict regions.