(MENAFN- Swissinfo) Faced with the Russian military threat in Europe, the three Baltic countries, Poland and Finland have decided to withdraw from the international treaty banning anti-personnel mines. SWI swissinfo explains why now. This content was published on July 18, 2025 - 09:00 6 minutes

Based in Geneva, I cover the work of the United Nations and other international organisations there. My focus is on humanitarian aid, human rights, and peace diplomacy. I studied business and economics at the University of Lausanne before training as a journalist and joining SWI swissinfo in 2021.

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For the first time in the history of the landmark Ottawa Convention, nations are walking away. Faced with the Russian military threat in Europe, five countries-Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland-have taken the extraordinary step of announcing their withdrawal from the international treaty that bans anti-personnel landmines.

In a joint statementExternal link published on March 18, 2025, the defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland announced their intention to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention. Finland announced its decision to do the same on April 1. While the number of victims of these weapons has fallen sharply, their decision could jeopardise decades of progress.

So why are these countries making this decision now? Here's what you need to know – in four key questions and answers.

What drove these countries want to leave the convention?

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland – all members of NATO and direct neighbours of Russia or its ally Belarus – cited the Russian military threat as the main reason for withdrawing from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. The 1997 treaty forbids the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines

Faced with a deteriorating security situation in Europe, they have indicated that they do not wish to deprive themselves of what they consider to be a tool of military deterrence. The Baltic states and Poland said this was“a clear message” that they were ready to“use every necessary measure” to defend themselves.

These announcements come as European NATO members seek to ensure their own defence in the face of an American ally whose reliability is uncertain. President Donald Trump has suggested on several occasions that the United States might not defend countries in the alliance that fail to meet their military spending commitments.

Several powers never signed the Ottawa Convention. These include China, India, Iran, Israel, Russia, Pakistan and the United States. To date, 165 of the 193 states recognised by the United Nations have signed the treaty.

>> A portrait of Tun Channareth, a Cambodian activist who played a key role in the ban on anti-personnel mines:

More More Cambodia's Tun Channareth renews fight for mine-free world in Geneva

This content was published on Jul 18, 2025 A long-standing campaigner against anti-personnel mines, Cambodian Tun Channareth was in Geneva to defend the convention banning them, which has been weakened by the withdrawal of several Eastern European countries.

Read more: Cambodia's Tun Channareth renews fight for mine-free world in Genev

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