Poland has declared its intention to utilize anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines to protect its eastern border against the increasing threat posed by Russia. The country officially withdrew from the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, also known as the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines to prevent long-lasting harm to civilians in conflict areas.
Despite ratifying the treaty in 2012 and eliminating its domestic anti-personnel mine supply in 2016, Poland has decided to resume manufacturing these weapons for defense purposes. Pawel Zalewski, Poland’s deputy defense minister, emphasized the importance of these mines in fortifying NATO’s eastern flank against Russia’s aggressive stance towards neighboring countries.
Following Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, several countries, including Poland, have reconsidered their adherence to the Ottawa Convention. The move to withdraw from the treaty aligns Poland with other nations like Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine.
Landmines are explosive devices placed underground that detonate upon contact with a person or vehicle. Anti-tank mines, permitted under the Ottawa Convention, do not react to human weight. Notably, countries like Russia and the United States, under President Donald Trump’s administration, have not joined the treaty and have policies allowing the use of certain types of landmines.
As part of its Eastern Shield strategy, Poland plans to domestically produce both types of landmines and collaborate with local manufacturers for self-sufficiency. Prime Minister Donald Tusk affirmed the country’s capability to deploy mines along its eastern borders within 48 hours if necessary.
Poland aims to bolster its defenses on the borders with Belarus and Russia through a network of enhanced fortifications known as the Eastern Shield. Zalewski clarified that the mines would only be deployed in response to a credible threat of Russian aggression.
Despite criticism from human rights groups regarding the dangers of anti-personnel mines to civilians, Poland justifies its decision by ensuring the mines will be used only in defensive measures. Zalewski reiterated that while Poland is not aggressive, it must utilize all available means to deter potential threats, particularly from Russia.