In a striking move that emphasizes regional security concerns, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on landmines. This decision, communicated during a joint defense ministers meeting on Tuesday, reflects an urgent need to bolster deterrence and defense in light of escalating threats from Russia.
The backdrop to this shift comes as Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared his intentions to recommend the withdrawal from the convention, aimed at ensuring a more robust defensive posture against potential aggression.
“In the face of the menace posed by Russia, it is paramount that we enhance our defense capabilities,” Tusk emphasized, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
Russia’s response was swift. On Thursday, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, warned that Russia would take retaliatory measures to safeguard its national defense and security. She stated, “This decision by Poland and the Baltic states will lead to further escalation and degradation of regional and international security,” indicating that Russia views this step as a significant provocation.
Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s Foreign Minister, characterized the Russian threat as “classic Soviet diplomacy.” He pointed out that Russia is now reacting to Poland’s withdrawal from a treaty that it has never signed. “They threaten us with retaliation for exiting a convention on anti-personnel mines, to which they are not a party,” Sikorski noted, highlighting the irony of Russia's stance.
Further addressing the geopolitical landscape, Sikorski was vocal in London about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. “After three years of fighting, Putin still battles in the Donbas and has lost the war on the Black Sea. He aims to claim all of Ukraine and denies Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent, democratic, pro-Western state,” he remarked in an interview with Sky News, framing Putin's narrative as a colonial one.
The Ottawa Convention, which was adopted to prohibit the production, use, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel mines, has been a significant international treaty since its enforcement in March 1999. It requires signatory nations to eliminate stockpiles within four years and to clear mined areas within a decade while providing support for victims of these munitions.
As of March 2025, the convention has garnered support from 164 countries. Although Poland signed the treaty on December 4, 1997, it only ratified it on December 27, 2012, and the treaty officially took effect in Poland on June 1, 2013.
Sikorski’s comments reaffirm the reality that key powers, including Russia, the United States, and China, remain outside the framework of this critical treaty. He articulated, “Putin wants all of Ukraine,” framing Russia’s imperial ambition as fundamentally opposed to the rights of Ukraine as a sovereign nation.
The political climate following this announcement intensifies concerns among European nations regarding security measures. Sikorski’s critiques of Putin’s strategy detail the challenges faced in eastern Europe, emphasizing a united front among the Baltic states and Poland against the looming threats posed by the Kremlin.
This unprecedented withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention marks a significant pivot in defense strategy, raising critical discussions about the future of international arms control agreements and the implications for regional security dynamics.
Podcast listeners and readers across the globe are encouraged to stay abreast of ongoing developments regarding European security and the international community's response to the evolving tensions with Russia.
