The Latvian Parliament has voted to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, a treaty banning the use, production, and stockpiling of anti-personnel landmines. The decision, adopted in an expedited two-reading process, reflects growing security concerns in the Baltic region following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Latvia’s Foreign Ministry cited a shift in the regional security landscape, stressing the need for flexibility in defence planning. Officials pointed to Russia’s disregard for international law and the strategic benefits of landmines in modern warfare, as evidenced in Ukraine.
This move aligns Latvia with other eastern NATO members. Lithuania recently exited the Convention on Cluster Munitions, while Poland and Finland are reassessing their positions. As noted in a Policy Exchange research paper, these treaties, conceived in a post-Cold War era, may no longer reflect today’s geopolitical threats and could hinder the West’s military deterrence against Russia.
