Poland’s deputy defence minister informed The Associated Press on Friday that Poland will utilize both anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines to protect its eastern border from the escalating 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, which prohibited the use of anti-personnel mines due to their long-lasting impact and history of causing civilian suffering in conflict zones like Cambodia, Angola, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Having ratified the treaty in 2012 and destroyed its domestic stockpile of anti-personnel mines in 2016, Poland now plans to resume manufacturing these weapons. Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Zalewski emphasized the importance of these mines in fortifying NATO’s eastern flank along Poland’s borders with Russia and Belarus.
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Highlighting the need for defense against Russia, Zalewski stated that the country had aggressive intentions toward its neighbors and never committed to the international landmine ban treaty. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, neighboring countries have been reconsidering their adherence to the treaty, with Poland, along with Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine, announcing their withdrawal last year.
We are not an aggressive country but we have to use all means to deter Russia.Pawel Zalewski, Poland’s deputy defence minister
Landmines, explosive devices placed on or under the ground that detonate upon contact, are a contentious issue. While anti-personnel mines are banned under the Ottawa Convention, anti-tank mines, designed to target vehicles rather than individuals, remain permissible.
Russia, among nearly three dozen countries that never signed the Ottawa treaty, including the United States, has policies allowing the use of certain landmines. During Donald Trump’s administration, the U.S. authorized non-persistent landmines that deactivate after a set period. In a move to support Ukraine, the U.S. provided anti-personnel mines to impede Russian advancements.
As part of the Eastern Shield strategy, Poland plans to domestically produce both anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines, aiming for self-sufficiency by collaborating with local manufacturers. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the country’s ability to mine its eastern borders within 48 hours in case of a threat, unveiling technology like the unmanned vehicle Bluszcz for mine distribution.
Given the extensive length of Poland’s eastern borders, Zalewski stressed the necessity for a significant number of landmines. The country intends to create mine stockpiles as part of