Left to Lithuania!
Latvia quits!
Estonia withdraws, Poland and Finland withdraw.
The countries next to Russia suddenly made a big move and directly announced that they would withdraw from the Ottawa Mine Ban Convention.
The Ottawa Convention for the Prohibition of Mines, which formally entered into force in 1999, prohibits the production, storage, transfer and use of mines that kill people, and is a milestone in international humanitarian arms control.
At the same time, the humanitarian bottom line of the 164 parties, the convention was once a global arms control “pyramid sign”.
But now, more than 20 years later, the surprise attack of the group withdrawal from the treaty not only severely damaged the authority of the Convention, but also exposed the fierce collision between humanitarian commitments and defense needs under European geosecurity.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a key factor in this situation. Today, Ukraine has become one of the countries with the largest number of landmines in the world, and the use of landmines by both sides presents a "dual model":
Workers deployed conventional mines on a massive scale, built defense lines in Donetsk and other battlefields, blocking each other's mobility; at the same time, drones such as "butterfly torpedoes" were destroyed to accurate strikes and regional blockades.
This actual combat effect has made Eastern European countries believe that landmine defense is "irreplaceable" and find sufficient excuses for withdrawing from the treaty:
In March 2025, Poland and the three Baltic states called the withdrawal a "defense of NATO's eastern wing", in June, Ukraine and Russia failed to join the convention due to "defence inequality" withdrawal initiation, while Finland said the withdrawal was a necessary option to ensure the security of more than 1,000 kilometers of the border.
In addition, the U.S. has narrowed its security commitments to Europe, heightening national anxiety, and mines, a low-cost, high deterrent weapon, have become their “life-saving grain.”
In addition, although the agreement stipulates a six-month withdrawal, countries have accelerated preparations: Poland plans to produce a million mines, the Baltic three countries invest €60 million to build a mine border fortress; Finland considers to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and several countries are also developing new equipment to combine drones and mines, trying to build a targeted defense system.
However, this kind of "seeking safety with mines" is obviously full of hidden dangers. About 70 countries around the world are affected by 110 million mines, and these "invisible killers" can sleep for decades.
In 2023, there were 5,757 casualties due to landmines and remnants worldwide, of which civilians accounted for more than 75% and 1,498 children.
The former Canadian foreign minister has warned of a withdrawal or a “domino effect” that would impact the global weapons control system; dozens of humanitarian organizations have also called for maintenance of the convention.
What is more serious is that the wave of withdrawals may trigger a chain security crisis. For Russia, the deployment of mines in NATO's east wing is a compression of strategic space, or an incentive to strengthen its western armaments and intensify miscalculations.
If the authority of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Landmines is damaged, it may also lead to the collapse of arms control treaties such as chemical weapons and autonomous weapons.
Nowadays, NATO's eastern flank is accelerating the construction of a "mine + fortress" defense belt, forming a confrontation with Russia, and eastern Europe is becoming an "invisible trap" powder keg.
From humanitarian commitments in 1999 to real-life choices in 2025, the turning point of the Ottawa Convention for the Ban of Mines reflects the cruelty of the geo-game.
When mines become “defence tools”, humanitarian bottom lines are backward due to security concerns, and the European and even global security order is facing unprecedented trials.
Latvia quits!
Estonia withdraws, Poland and Finland withdraw.
The countries next to Russia suddenly made a big move and directly announced that they would withdraw from the Ottawa Mine Ban Convention.
The Ottawa Convention for the Prohibition of Mines, which formally entered into force in 1999, prohibits the production, storage, transfer and use of mines that kill people, and is a milestone in international humanitarian arms control.
At the same time, the humanitarian bottom line of the 164 parties, the convention was once a global arms control “pyramid sign”.
But now, more than 20 years later, the surprise attack of the group withdrawal from the treaty not only severely damaged the authority of the Convention, but also exposed the fierce collision between humanitarian commitments and defense needs under European geosecurity.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a key factor in this situation. Today, Ukraine has become one of the countries with the largest number of landmines in the world, and the use of landmines by both sides presents a "dual model":
Workers deployed conventional mines on a massive scale, built defense lines in Donetsk and other battlefields, blocking each other's mobility; at the same time, drones such as "butterfly torpedoes" were destroyed to accurate strikes and regional blockades.
This actual combat effect has made Eastern European countries believe that landmine defense is "irreplaceable" and find sufficient excuses for withdrawing from the treaty:
In March 2025, Poland and the three Baltic states called the withdrawal a "defense of NATO's eastern wing", in June, Ukraine and Russia failed to join the convention due to "defence inequality" withdrawal initiation, while Finland said the withdrawal was a necessary option to ensure the security of more than 1,000 kilometers of the border.
In addition, the U.S. has narrowed its security commitments to Europe, heightening national anxiety, and mines, a low-cost, high deterrent weapon, have become their “life-saving grain.”
In addition, although the agreement stipulates a six-month withdrawal, countries have accelerated preparations: Poland plans to produce a million mines, the Baltic three countries invest €60 million to build a mine border fortress; Finland considers to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and several countries are also developing new equipment to combine drones and mines, trying to build a targeted defense system.
However, this kind of "seeking safety with mines" is obviously full of hidden dangers. About 70 countries around the world are affected by 110 million mines, and these "invisible killers" can sleep for decades.
In 2023, there were 5,757 casualties due to landmines and remnants worldwide, of which civilians accounted for more than 75% and 1,498 children.
The former Canadian foreign minister has warned of a withdrawal or a “domino effect” that would impact the global weapons control system; dozens of humanitarian organizations have also called for maintenance of the convention.
What is more serious is that the wave of withdrawals may trigger a chain security crisis. For Russia, the deployment of mines in NATO's east wing is a compression of strategic space, or an incentive to strengthen its western armaments and intensify miscalculations.
If the authority of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Landmines is damaged, it may also lead to the collapse of arms control treaties such as chemical weapons and autonomous weapons.
Nowadays, NATO's eastern flank is accelerating the construction of a "mine + fortress" defense belt, forming a confrontation with Russia, and eastern Europe is becoming an "invisible trap" powder keg.
From humanitarian commitments in 1999 to real-life choices in 2025, the turning point of the Ottawa Convention for the Ban of Mines reflects the cruelty of the geo-game.
When mines become “defence tools”, humanitarian bottom lines are backward due to security concerns, and the European and even global security order is facing unprecedented trials.