In a significant development, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have announced their decision today to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel landmines. The reason cited for their withdrawal is the heightened military threats from Russia. This move would allow these NATO members to resume stockpiling landmines along their borders.
This decision signals a notable shift in NATO's eastern defense strategy, as these countries align with 34 other nations, including the US and Russia, that are not part of the treaty. The withdrawal underscores the escalating security concerns in the region, with these nations already ranking among the top donors of aid to Ukraine based on GDP percentage.