Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland announced on March 18 their intention to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention that banned anti-personnel mines.
The four countries’ defence ministers said in a joint statement that they “unanimously” recommended withdrawing from the convention.
“With this decision, we are sending a clear message: our countries are prepared and can use every necessary measure to defend our territory and freedom,” they said.
The move has yet to be approved by the parliaments of the respective countries.
The ministers said in the joint statement that since the ratification of the Ottawa Convention, the security situation in the region “has fundamentally deteriorated” and military threats to NATO member states bordering Russia and Belarus “have significantly increased”.
“We believe that in the current security environment, it is of paramount importance to provide our defence forces with flexibility and freedom of choice of the potential use of new weapon systems and solutions to bolster the defence of the alliance’s vulnerable Eastern Flank,” the ministers said.
“In light of these considerations, we – the ministers of defence of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland – unanimously recommend withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention,” they said.
The ministers also insisted that, despite their withdrawal from the arms control treaty, their countries “will remain committed to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians during an armed conflict”.
All EU member countries are parties to the Ottawa Convention, while China, Russia, the US, India and Pakistan have not joined it.
Lithuania ratified the Ottawa Convention in 2003.
The country has recently also withdrawn from an international convention banning cluster munitions.
Earlier, the International Committee of the Red Cross said it was “very concerned” about the European context of rearmament.
“The impact of these possible withdrawals from conventions by certain states would have very serious consequences for many civilians – in the very long term and even within these countries themselves,” said ICRC spokesman Christian Cardon last week.
“It is precisely now that these treaties are relevant, and not in times of peace and stability,” he added.
Remigijus Zemaitaitis, the leader of Nemunas Dawn party that was part of the ruling coalition, said on March 18 that he did not support the decision by Lithuania and other countries in the region to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention.
“I’m against this. I definitely don’t support the withdrawal. What I see today is a hasty and very quick decision, and I doubt we’ll see any benefits from it,” Zemaitaitis told reporters.
“As far as I know, the Seimas makes this decision, so they shouldn’t be making it for me. Let the foreign minister and defence minister not make decisions for Zemaitaitis and other Seimas members. They could read the constitution to understand the limits of their authority,” the Nemunas Dawn leader said.
“When someone wants to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, they come to Seimas members, explain the options and consequences, and then we’ll make a decision once they present it to our political group,” he added.
The Nemunas Dawn holds 19 seats in the 141-member parliament, Seimas. It is the third biggest group.
Meanwhile, Seimas Speaker Saulius Skvernelis, leader of another party in the ruling coalition, the Democrats “For Lithuania”, believes that withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention is a necessary step to safeguard the country’s border.
“This decision is needed, and it was discussed within the State Defence Council format. It’s necessary, given the length of our border with hostile nations and what is happening in Ukraine. The enemy, unfortunately, doesn’t follow any conventions,” Skvernelis told reporters.
“When it comes to defending our border, anti-personnel mines are important; they certainly enable us to defend ourselves effectively,” he added.
According to Skvernelis, “civilised countries” that use such equipment have mine maps and “don’t do it haphazardly”. Once these weapons are no longer needed, demining operations can be carried out without endangering civilians, he argued.
“I believe that after this first step, with the Baltic states and Poland on board, the Finns should take this position into account, and this step will help them make their own decision,” he said.
The Democrats “For Lithuania” hold 14 seats in the Seimas. (LRT)