Poland’s deputy defence minister announced to The Associated Press that Poland will utilize both anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines to protect its eastern border from the increasing threat posed by Russia. This decision comes as Poland officially withdrew from the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, also known as the Ottawa Convention. The treaty prohibits the possession and use of anti-personnel mines due to their long-lasting impact and severe harm to civilians in conflict zones like Cambodia, Angola, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Having ratified the treaty in 2012 and eliminated its domestic stockpile of anti-personnel mines in 2016, Poland now plans to resume the production of these weapons. The deputy defence minister, Pawel Zalewski, emphasized the importance of these mines in constructing a defense structure along NATO’s eastern flank, facing Russia to the north and Belarus to the east.
Zalewski justified Poland’s actions by citing the need to defend against Russia, a country with aggressive intentions towards its neighbors and which never committed to the international landmine ban treaty. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, several neighboring countries, including Poland, have reconsidered their adherence to the treaty.
Landmines are explosive devices placed on or under the ground, detonating upon contact with a person or vehicle. While anti-tank mines, which do not activate under human weight, are permitted under the Ottawa Convention, anti-personnel mines are banned. Poland aims to achieve self-sufficiency by domestically producing both types of mines and collaborating with local producers.
The Polish government plans to fortify its eastern borders with Belarus and Russia through the Eastern Shield strategy, involving the deployment of mine stockpiles. Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighted the country’s readiness to mine its borders within 48 hours if necessary. Zalewski stressed the need for a substantial number of landmines given the length of the eastern borders.
Despite criticism from human rights groups regarding the withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, Zalewski maintained that Poland would only deploy the mines in response to a realistic threat of Russian aggression. Emphasizing that Poland is not an aggressive nation, he reiterated the necessity of all available means to deter potential threats, particularly from Russia.
