Poland and Baltic States: withdrawal from the landmine contract for Putin threat!

Poland and Baltic States: withdrawal from the landmine contract for Putin threat!

Poland and the Baltic States, consisting of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, have decided to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which prohibits the use of anti-personal mines. This recommendation was given by the defense ministers of the four countries in a joint statement and reflects the concern about the deteriorated security situation in the region. The ministers state that the military threats to NATO member states, especially on the border with Russia and Belarus, have increased significantly since the convention came into force in 1999. According to al jazera has caused this situation to protect all the necessary measures to protect their territory To take freedom.

As part of their argument, the ministers emphasize that the security situation on the eastern NATO front had "fundamentally worsened". This happens against the background of growing tensions between Russia and its neighbors. The Baltic States also express concerns about a possible approach between Russia and the United States, which could endanger both their own security and that of Ukraine. In their joint declaration, the ministers reaffirm, despite the intended exit from the Ottawa Convention href = "https://abcnews.go.com/international/poland-baltic-states-rommend-leaving-anti--land-mine-119902204" Class = "Source_2"> ABC News reported.

historical context and international reactions

The Ottawa Convention was signed in 1997 and came into force in 1999. More than 160 nations have ratified the contract, but countries such as the USA, Russia and China rejected a signing. The Baltic States and Poles fear that the increasing military threats of states such as Russia who have recently used anti-personnel mines that could significantly endanger the safety of NATO member states. According to a report by SPIEGEL have continued to use landmines in 2023 and 2024.

The defense ministers of the Baltic States and Polands make it clear that there are currently no plans to develop, store or use anti -person mines. Nevertheless, they underline the willingness to prepare themselves militarily to counter the growing threat from Russia and Belarus. Estonia's Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur emphasized that the country and its regional allies, despite the potential withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, will remain obliged to international humanitarian law.