In a bold shift driven by escalating fears over Russian aggression, Lithuania’s parliament on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to scrap its commitment to an international ban on anti-personnel landmines. The move signals a significant pivot in defense policy as tensions across Eastern Europe continue to mount.
The vote—107 in favor, zero opposed, with three abstentions—officially sets Lithuania on course to exit the Ottawa Convention, a landmark 1997 treaty that prohibits the use, production, and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines. The withdrawal will become official in six months, according to a statement from the country’s defense ministry posted on X.
“This is now a done deal,” the ministry declared, highlighting that the decision aligns with a joint March declaration by Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland to abandon the treaty in light of regional threats.
Latvia led the way last month by being the first among the group to cast its vote to withdraw. Finland followed suit in April, also signaling its intent to leave the pact, underscoring a growing regional consensus among NATO’s eastern flank.
The Ottawa Convention—signed by over 160 nations and territories—aims to eliminate the use of anti-personnel mines due to their devastating impact on civilians. These devices, designed to maim or kill when stepped on, have long been condemned by humanitarian groups for their indiscriminate and lingering dangers. Notably, neither Russia nor the United States has signed onto the treaty.
While Ukraine remains a party to the agreement, its neighboring allies now appear to be reconsidering the costs of compliance in light of present-day threats. With deterrence and defense back in sharp focus, Lithuania’s decision marks another clear signal: security concerns are fast overtaking long-held arms control norms in parts of Europe.
