Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have officially notified the United Nations of their withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines, the foreign ministries of the three countries announced, reported Rks News.
These three former Soviet republics, all bordering Russia and currently members of both the EU and NATO, issued an official declaration stating their withdrawal will take effect six months after notification.
“With this decision, we send a clear message: our countries are ready and capable of using all necessary measures to defend their territory and freedoms,” the statement said.
The Ottawa Convention prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of all types of anti-personnel mines, which are considered particularly inhumane weapons. The treaty was finalized in 1997 and has been signed by over 160 countries. However, Russia, the United States, and China have never been signatories.
The decision to withdraw was previously made by the governments of the Baltic states and ratified by their parliaments. This move follows a joint recommendation from the defense ministers of the Baltic countries, with Poland and Finland also joining the initiative.
The rejection of the convention reflects the threat posed by Russia and the ongoing war it wages against Ukraine, which the Baltic states perceive as a direct security threat. The aim of this action is to strengthen deterrence and defensive capabilities, giving their militaries greater flexibility and freedom of decision-making, according to the signatories.
