On March 18, 2025, the Ministries of National Defense from Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland jointly recommended to their governments that they withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty that prohibits the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel mines. This controversial decision occurs amid heightened security concerns surrounding Poland's borders with Belarus and Russia, as underscored by Polish officials.
Poland has been a party to the Ottawa Convention since its ratification by the Polish Sejm in 2012. However, Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Bejda emphasized the seriousness of the current situation, stating, "We have no choice. The situation on the border is very serious; I am talking about the Polish-Belarusian border and the Polish-Russian border, given that Poland also borders Kaliningrad." With the specter of increased tensions from Eastern neighbors, there is a palpable shift in Poland's military policy.
Reports indicate that Poland will reintroduce the use of anti-personnel mines as part of a broader military strategy, labeled 'Eastern Shield,' aimed at reinforcing the country's defenses against potential threats from Belarus and Russia. Bejda’s comments signal a recognition of the escalating military needs, as he indicated that minefields would be an integral component of this defensive stance at the border with Belarus, and possibly along the border with the Kaliningrad Oblast.
In terms of logistics, Poland's current stockpile is non-existent – the country reportedly does not possess any anti-personnel mines at this time. However, plans are in place to involve companies belonging to the Polish Armaments Group in the production process. There's speculation around the scale of production, with estimates indicating that Poland may require several hundred thousand, or even up to a million, mines to meet its security needs.
The decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, however, faces scrutiny and raises several questions pertaining to international relations and security protocols. In response to the announcement from the Baltic NATO allies, Russian Ambassador to Belarus, Borys Gryzłow, voiced concerns about increasing paranoia among the Polish and Baltic leadership. He stated, "The situation on the border of the Union State with Poland has not changed since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. There are no threats from our side, except those generated by the growing paranoia within the leadership of Poland and the Baltic states."
This rhetorical engagement from the Russian side seeks to downplay the perceived threats while simultaneously warning Poland against any military provocation. Gryzłow cautioned that any aggressive actions towards the Union State could lead to dire consequences for Polish forces. He declared ominously, "The first step of the Polish armed forces towards the border of the Union State would be their last. We have all the necessary capabilities for that."
As Poland moves forward with its military restructuring and the implementation of mine deployment along its borders, NATO's collective response and strategy will become increasingly significant. The pullback from a widely respected international treaty raises discussions about military ethics and the balance between national security and global humanitarian responsibilities.
This pivotal moment highlights the pressures faced by NATO members in reevaluating their defense postures amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges. As external threats proliferate and neighborly tensions rise, the clash between commitment to international treaties and the demands of national security becomes increasingly clear-cut for Poland and its partners.
