NATO Allies Withdraw from Landmine Treaty Amid Rising Russian Threat
Several NATO countries, including Poland, Finland, and the Baltic states, are pulling out of the Ottawa Convention as they cite rising Russian military threats. This move is aimed at ensuring equal defense capabilities with nations that have not signed the treaty.
Published on April 5, 2025
Poland, Finland, and the Baltic states have announced plans to exit the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, citing increased military threats from Russia. On April 1, 2025, Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated that this move would allow these nations to be on equal footing with non-signatories including Russia, the United States, China, India, and Israel. Poland has even expressed interest in resuming landmine production, while the Baltic countries weigh their options, including discussions on the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Amid these developments, Norway remains the only country bordering Russia that continues to uphold the treaty, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the global stigma against landmines. The withdrawal comes at a time when reduced U.S. funding for global demining and persistent humanitarian concerns—highlighted by Ukraine being the world's most mined country as of 2024—are undermining decades of disarmament efforts. These strategic shifts underscore the growing security challenges facing the region.