Brussels: A number of European countries bordering Russia have announced their intention to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning the production and use of anti-personnel mines, citing escalating security concerns amid ongoing tensions with Russia. Countries such as Ukraine, Finland, Poland, and the Baltic States-Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania-have either withdrawn or indicated plans to do so, potentially reversing decades of global disarmament efforts.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Ottawa Treaty, established in December 1997, prohibits the use, development, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. The recent decisions by these nations have raised alarms among activists who have long campaigned for a global ban on these weapons, which continue to pose severe risks long after conflicts have ended.
In June, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concerns over these withdrawal announcements, urging all nations to adhere to humanitarian disarmament treaties and immediately cease any steps towards their withdrawal. Anti-personnel landmines, which are often hidden and designed to detonate when triggered by pressure, predominantly affect civilians. The International Committee of the Red Cross reports that over 80 percent of mine victims are civilians, underscoring the humanitarian impact of these weapons.