25 February, 2024
The Baltic states are considering withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines amid a full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war.
The Washington Post reported on this.
In recent weeks, politicians in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have been discussing the feasibility of withdrawing from the international convention prohibiting anti-personnel mines.
So far, each country has decided not to withdraw from the treaty, but the Baltic states continue to invest in anti-tank mines.
EFP PK-14 anti-tank mine of Estonian production in Ukraine. Photo from open sources
“The goal for all of us is to strengthen our defense capabilities, to do everything so that our border is protecting our societies. We should defend our territory from the first inch,” Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds noted.
The Baltic states have recently agreed to jointly build a powerful defense line. The plans of Lithuania and Latvia are not disclosed, but it is reported that Estonia plans to build about 600 concrete bunkers on its borders, which can accommodate 10 people.
“We can expect that within the next decade, NATO will face a Soviet-style mass army that, while technologically inferior to the allies, poses a significant threat due to its size, firepower and reserves,” Kaupo Rosin, Director General of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, wrote as part of an annual intelligence assessment released this month.
Some Baltic politicians state that despite NATO’s defensive guarantees, Ukraine’s recent experience facilitates the need to deter a possible Russian invasion on its own.
Military servicemen of the Armed Forces of Lithuania. Photo from open sources
Despite the Russian threat, the Baltic states have so far found more pros than cons of being part of the Ottawa Convention.
The Latvian Minister of Defense pointed out that advantages prevail over disadvantages, including the risk to civilians and the international resonance that may come from such a move.
“There is a whole range of landmines that we can use. And Latvia is absolutely ready to develop this potential. We have landmines in our arsenal, and we will develop this potential without receiving those landmines that the Convention prohibits,” he said.
Illustration photo of the Estonian military during trench warfare exercises. Photo credits: NATO
The treaty allows countries to use anti-tank mines, which are considered safer for civilians because they require much more weight to trigger.
The treaty also allows for the use of remotely controlled mines, which can target individual infantrymen when given a command.
“Anti-personnel mines are difficult to control. After all, it is not your opponent or enemy who will be clearing them, but our own children and animals,” Kusti Salm, Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defense, said.
The Baltic states praised the effectiveness of the capital fortifications and minefields, but are not yet ready to adopt a decision that would allow the use of anti-personnel mines.
The failure to honor the Budapest Memorandum has made the effort for the prevention of nuclear proliferation redundant. No one will ever surrender their nukes for empty promises anymore.
And now the Baltic States want to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, which is also a step backward. They might not be the last to do so. But, you can’t really blame them. The Baltic States are very small and could never put up a fight like Ukraine. And, they are obviously losing faith in NATO.
This trend shows us that the rules based world order that was created and expanded after WWII is falling apart at the seams. It’s mafia land foremost who is at fault for this. But, the West with its feebleness, lethargy, and inability to be foresighted is also at fault.
We are fully in a new world order, which is going into disorder. With a Trump in the WH, and the collection of weak Western leaders in place, we could be heading into a bleak future.
“But, you can’t really blame them.”
Indeed not. To expect them to obey the convention is unrealistic and unreasonable, because Russia certainly won’t. The Baltic states have no real choice. And to announce that publicly is the honest thing to do. They don’t want to make promises they can’t keep, so this step was unavoidable for them, in the light of the experiences of the Ukraine war. If anyone is to be blamed for that, it’s Putin.
I also put blame on the West, Mr. Gray. It didn’t have to come to all of this. Mistakes were made years ago already.
Yeah, ok, but with the best intentions, Mr. Ofp! Landmines are a serious risk for civilians after a war, there can’t be any reasonable doubt about this. The point is, though, living under Russian tyranny is even more risky. Thus, there is no real choice, better those ugly weapons than surrendering to the Putin thugs. ☹
Unfortunately, you’re absolutely right about this. Just about any other evil is better than the evils of russia.
Overdue. The Baltic States need tons of mines along their borders, and lots of Javelins, Patriots and batteries before Trump gets elected. Further Scandinavia and the Baltic States should form a united air force and navy, apart from Nato.
Yeah, right, Mike. Unrealistic progressive ideals don’t help in wartime. Small states like the Baltic ones urgently need protection by mines, because they have no strategic depth, necessary for more mobile combat operations. They need to defend themselves right at the border, retreat would lead to panic and disaster. Also, since Russia doesn’t honor any prohibitions, unilateral compliance would put the Baltic states at a severe disadvantage. So, to leave that questionable convention is the reasonable and honest thing to do.
Please do no longer reply to me or else…
Huh? What’s your problem, Mike? I did support your view! What’s wrong with that??? 😳
Mr. gray, in America, when someone says “Yeah, right.” It means, you’re talking bullshit. I think that this is what the problem was.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic-Baltic_Eighthttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic-Baltic_Eight
Now add the military component! ✌
Good idea. But, they should unite with Ukraine and Britain, too. Maybe also Poland, if they start behaving again.
The best defense for the Baltics, and Europe as a whole, is for Europe to pour their entire military resources into Ukraine now. Let the Russians suffer a resounding defeat on the battlefield whilst their oil refineries and factories burn, navy and airforce are eliminate, their economy withers, and a million mothers cry for their sons. Let Russian weakness and shame from a devastating loss at the hands of the Ukraines defend Europe for the next 100 years.
I agree. This is what should be happening. With the roach army destroyed, the rest of Europe doesn’t really need a military anymore. Of course, this is only for the time being. It could replace lost items in due time, but it wouldn’t be as urgent anymore as it is now.
If Europe doesn’t get it together, and this quite soon, then they must get used to the idea of themselves being in the trenches. Or, enjoy the coming ruskie mir.