Poland and BalTics plan Ottawa Treaty, which raised fears of the future of the Earth’s ban

Against the background of the three -year war in Ukraine, Poland and Baltics are preparing to get out of the Ottawa Treaty, and the prominent agreement that has witnessed 164 countries destroying their landscapes from landmines and prohibiting future use.

But critics of the decision, including the Canadians who have developed and attributed the agreement, warn that this is likely that civilians and four economies of countries are harmful to be a successful weapon in the war.

in A joint statement issued on TuesdayDefense ministers in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia recommended withdrawing from the prohibition of landmines, pointing to the increasing threat from Russia and its ally Pylaria as a reason.

Although the final decision has not yet been voted by their parliaments, the news has sparked concern in Europe and Canada and among human rights defenders, who warn that this departure can undermine the life rescue treaty that was established in 1999 – and the impact of the domino’s influence with other global agreements.

Latvia as a case study

Latvia signed the OTAWA Treaty in 2005 and is committed to destroying its stock of anti -Borussonel mines (APMS). Abandoning the agreement will allow the Baltic country to add APMS to its weapons again.

Like Poland and its neighbors in the Baltic, Estonia and Lithuania, Latvia shares borders with Russia. In the joint statement this week, defense ministers in the four countries said that leaving the treaty would give their armies “flexibility and freedom of choice” to use weapons such as APMS, if needed.

This statement comes months after the US administration agreed under Joe Biden to send landmines to Ukraine, saying that the decision was a military saying, as Russia has deployed more infantry soldiers before tanks or other mechanical equipment. Although Ukraine also signed the Outua Treaty, it has informed their signatories that it may benefit from the occupied territories. After the inclusion of Russia CrimeaBBC mentioned.

Ansanz, the diplomatic advisor to the Minister of Defense in Latvia, said Anders Speords, noting that leaving the treaty has public support in his country.

“The situation has not improved on the issue of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Russian hybrid attacks, and Russian public aggression against European countries and other countries,” he said. “In addition, there were certain concerns within the Latvia community after the new administration that reached its position in the United States.”

A decision will not be taken to leave the Ottawa treaty lightly.

The Red Cross reacts

In their joint statement, the ministers of the four countries of defense pledged to support international humanitarian law and ensure that civilians are protecting from harm if parliaments believed in a decision to withdraw from the treaty.

But the Red Cross asked how two things could be done in a direct conflict.

The organization, which is working specifically in the war areas, said directly to the influence of landmines, said the recommendation is a great setback for the Outua Treaty.

In a recent interview with him, the chief official spokesperson for the Red Cross, Christian Cardone, questioned the tactical decision from a military point of view to use APMS, given that they harm civilians inappropriately and not enemy soldiers.

“In 2024, the evaluation was that 80 percent of APMS affected by civilians … of 80 percent, half of them were children,” he said. “This is the main issue.”

Cardone said there are long -term consequences for using landmines, whose effects remain after the end of the war. In addition to the threat of human health, uninterrupted devices become economic obstacles, because they make large areas of land that is not suitable for agriculture or tourism.

The Red Cross worries that others may follow Poland and the Baltic countries if they withdraw from the treaty and put a precedent for countries to give up other humanitarian treaties as well. That is why Cardone and his colleagues urge states to reaffirm their commitment now.

Canadian contact

It is difficult to be surprising that an agreement called the Ottawa Treaty has Canada in DNA. The former foreign minister of the country, Lloyd Acrse, played a pivotal role in establishing, enhancing and implementing the agreement.

He told CBC News that he was dismayed due to the potential withdrawal of Poland and the Treaty of the Treaty. But the veteran diplomat partially blames the United States for the decision of the defense ministers, saying that “the trigger was withdrawn” when Biden agreed last year to provide landmines to Ukraine – then it was exacerbated because the current president of foreign aid and historical military support was reduced.

“This is somewhat, for the first time, it broke the standard, the criterion that was appointed,” said Acrist. “I expected at the time that there would be a snowball effect, an effect that comes out of it.

“Of course, this has been distinguished by Donald Trump further, and this means that the security guarantees of the countries adjacent to Russia have now been withdrawn mainly.”

Like the Red Cross, Axworthy wonders about the reason for the desire of Poland and BalTics to re -submit APMS to their arsenals. It also doubts their military effectiveness and alternative advocates, such as early regimes and drones, to address Russian aggression instead.

Perhaps more worrying, Al -Kindi, who helped establish this global life -saving agreement, says that he is looking at the potential withdrawal of the four countries of it as part of the broader direction that undermines the international legal system.