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Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, announced on 19 February 2026 that his country will withdraw from the Ottawa Convention (Mine Ban Treaty) to enable rapid deployment of anti‑personnel mines along its eastern borders if needed. The move, part of the “East Shield” border defence project, reflects security concerns about neighbouring Belarus and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Poland intends to resume production of anti‑personnel mines after the withdrawal takes effect later this year.
Background
The Ottawa Convention, formally titled the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti‑Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, was opened for signature on 3 December 1997 and entered into force on 1 March 1999. It aims to eliminate anti‑personnel landmines worldwide. As of late 2024, 164 states are parties to the treaty, representing more than 80 per cent of the world’s countries. Major military powers such as the United States, Russia, China, India, Pakistan and South Korea remain outside the treaty.
Key provisions of the convention
- Comprehensive ban: States‑parties agree never to use, develop, produce, acquire, stockpile or transfer anti‑personnel mines.
- Stockpile destruction: States must destroy their stockpiled mines within four years of joining the treaty.
- Mine clearance: All mined areas under a state’s jurisdiction must be cleared within 10 years, though extensions may be granted.
- Assistance and reporting: Parties undertake to provide assistance to mine victims, share data on stockpiles and minefields, and adopt national legislation to implement the treaty.
Global significance
- Humanitarian impact: The treaty has helped stigmatise the use of landmines, leading to reduced deployment, destruction of tens of millions of mines and fewer new casualties in many regions.
- Remaining challenges: Non‑signatories and some non‑state armed groups still use landmines. Countries such as Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Chad, Iraq and Ukraine continue to suffer from contamination and casualties.
- Poland’s decision: Poland’s withdrawal may weaken the emerging norm against landmines. It highlights the tension between humanitarian disarmament efforts and perceived national security needs.
Source: Devdiscourse
