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Poland and Baltic States Announce Withdrawal from Mine Ban Treaty

Citing heightened security threats from Russia and Belarus, the four NATO members plan to exit the Ottawa Treaty, pending parliamentary approval.

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Signs warn of minefields in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine photographed on February 3, 2022.
DONETSK, UKRAINE - JULY 11: Ukrainian army's 35th Marine Brigade members conduct mine clearance work at a field in Donetsk, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. (Photo by Erçin Ertürk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Members of the de-mining department of the Ukrainian Emergency Services survey an area of farmland and electric power lines for land mines and other unexploded ordnance for electricians to access power towers damaged by Russian strikes in order to repair them, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Korovii Yar, in the Eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 20, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura

Overview

  • Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have formally announced their intent to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel landmines.
  • The joint decision is attributed to a 'fundamentally deteriorated' security environment and increased military threats from neighboring Russia and Belarus.
  • The withdrawal must still be approved by the national parliaments of the four countries, with the process expected to take six months after approval.
  • Despite the planned withdrawal, the countries emphasized their continued commitment to international humanitarian law and civilian protection during conflicts.
  • Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have criticized the move, warning of the long-term humanitarian risks posed by landmines.