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Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have agreed to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty banning anti-personnel mines, due to growing concerns about Russia’s increasing military threat to its neighboring NATO countries.

This decision follows the unanimous recommendation of defense ministers from the Baltic states and Poland to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention.

In their joint statement on Tuesday, the defense ministers stated, “We believe that in the current security environment, it is paramount to provide our defense forces with flexibility and freedom to potentially use new weapon systems and solutions to strengthen the defense of the alliance’s vulnerable eastern flank.”

Latvia’s Prime Minister, Evika Silina, announced that a draft would be sent to parliament for the final decision by the following week.

“This decision will allow our National Armed Forces to gain additional capabilities, encompassing what can be purchased and when,” Silina stated.

She added that “Latvia has also considered the possibility of production, which aligns with our military-industrial strategy adopted today.”

Latvia’s Defense Minister, Andris Spruds, stated that this move would be a crucial step towards building a Baltic defense line.

“We must be provided the opportunity to enhance our security and defense capabilities by withdrawing from this Convention,” he further emphasized.

Lithuania also emphasized their commitment to increasing the production of explosives.

“Discussions on having the means, especially for the production of explosives, at home have been ongoing since the onset of the full-scale war in Ukraine,” Chief of Defense Raimundas Vaiksnoras mentioned.

Lithuania’s defense minister, Dovile Sakaliene, stated that the joint decision sent a strong signal indicating commitment to deterrence and border defense.

The decision could have a ripple effect, with other countries potentially following suit. “We will not be the first or the last country to leave the Convention,” Latvia’s Prime Minister stated.

Finland could also be considering withdrawal from the treaty, as they previously expressed similar concerns due to Russia’s use of anti-personnel mines in Ukraine.

More than 160 countries and territories are signatories to the Ottawa Convention, including Ukraine, but excluding Russia and the US.

The 1997 treaty prohibits the production, possession, and transfer of anti-personnel mines, which are designed to be hidden and have caused thousands of civilian casualties worldwide, often long after conflicts have ended.