Latvia has officially withdrawn from the international convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines, marking an important step in its defense policy and responding to the new regional security situation
The relevant decision was approved on Thursday by the country's president, Edgars Rinkēvičs, who signed the law removing Latvia from the international agreement—the Ottawa Convention—which regulates the prohibition of the use, storage, and production of unexploded anti-personnel mines. Justifying this move, the Latvian government notes that over the past two decades, the regional security situation has changed significantly. In particular, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has openly demonstrated that Moscow essentially disregards the territorial integrity of other states and does not hesitate to employ any means to achieve its goals. The explanatory note to the law emphasizes that, in the current realities, it is critically important for Latvia to have flexibility in choosing armaments and tactical approaches to respond effectively to potential military threats and to strengthen the resilience of the state. “In light of the dynamics of the regional security situation, we need to preserve the ability to deploy various systems of weapons and tactical approaches that will deter the aggressor and protect our country and its population,” the document states. At the same time, Latvia underscores its commitment to international humanitarian standards—continuing to care about minimizing the impact of military actions on civilians and adhering to all norms of humanitarian law. Historical background: On April 16 of this year, the Latvian Parliament, the Saeima, in its final reading supported the decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which was signed in Oslo in 1997 and fully entered into force in 1999. The treaty was signed by over 160 countries worldwide, mostly in the West. However, considering the increasing geopolitical tension and Russia’s aggression, the Baltic countries—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—along with Poland and Finland, announced their intention to leave this international agreement in order to have the possibility to deploy weapons on their territories that were previously prohibited under the convention. Latvian Minister of Defense Ināra Mūrniece stated in early March that the country is considering deploying anti-tank mines and additional obstacles along its eastern borders to strengthen its defense in response to potential aggressive actions from Russia and Belarus. This decision became part of a broader strategy of military modernization and national defense strengthening amid rising geopolitical tensions, which has led to changes in the country’s security policies. Thus, Latvia once again demonstrates its readiness to adapt to modern challenges and expand its defense capabilities. Exiting the international agreement does not violate humanitarian norms but is a strategic step towards strengthening independence and security, taking into account the realities of the modern world.