Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have agreed to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty banning anti-personnel mines. This decision follows a recommendation from the Baltic states' defense ministers amid rising security threats from Russia. Leaders emphasized the need for increased military flexibility and capabilities. Latvia's Prime Minister and Minister of Defence articulated the benefits of this shift for national defense and regional security, noting potential future production of explosives. Lithuania also expressed intent to enhance local arms production, signaling a unified stance on bolstering NATO's eastern defenses.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the defence ministers said they "believe that in the current security environment it is paramount to provide our defence forces flexibility and freedom of choice to potentially use new weapons systems and solutions to bolster the defence of the alliance's vulnerable eastern flank."
This decision will give our National Armed Forces additional capabilities, when they can buy and what," Silina said, highlighting the strategic implications of the withdrawal.
Latvia's Minister of Defence, Andris Spruds, remarked that the move would be a crucial step towards building the "Baltic defence line together," emphasizing its collective importance.
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