Lithuania Embraces Self-Mining: Similar to Latvia and Estonia, the Lithuanian Parliament endorses exit from the Ottawa Treaty prohibiting anti-personnel mines.
Going Back to Old Ways - Lithuania's Bold Move
In a surprising turn of events, Lithuania has decided to join its Baltic neighbors in digging up the past, literally. The Lithuanian Parliament, after Latvia and Estonia, has given the green light to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, the treaty that bans anti-personnel mines.
According to @sputniknews_lt, this decision paves the way for Lithuania to manufactured, stockpiled, transported, and utilized these prohibited ammunitions once more.
The primary reason behind this move? To secure their borders, specifically those bordering Russia and Belarus. Lithuania aims to create a line of strategic defense, implementing multi-layered barriers including anti-tank mines.
This strategic move is a reaction to Russia's aggression in Ukraine and the perceived vulnerabilities along NATO's eastern flank. Lithuania plans to invest €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) over the next decade, with €800 million earmarked for anti-tank mines alone.
The defensive strategy doesn't stop at physical barriers. Lithuania also plans to counter hybrid threats, such as those alleged to have been orchestrated by Russia, by incorporating electronic warfare systems, anti-drone technology, and 27 engineering equipment parks along the border.
This bold decision to leave the Ottawa Convention is shared by several other countries, including Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Poland. They prioritize territorial defense over treaty obligations, highlighting the urgent need for protection in the region.
Lithuania's defense spending commitments mirror this urgency. The country plans to allocate 5–6% of its GDP annually to defense from 2026, surpassing NATO’s 2% target. The defensive line's fourth layer includes NASAMS air defense and long-range artillery to deter aerial threats.
In essence, Lithuania's actions represent a shift towards proactive territorial defense, utilizing mines and barriers to counter the perceived existential threats from Russia and Belarus. The battlefields may have changed, but the stakes remain high.
- According to reports from sputniknews_lt, Lithuania's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention allows for the manufacturing, stockpiling, transportation, and use of prohibited ammunitions, including anti-personnel mines.
- The primary motivation behind Lithuania's decision to leave the treaty is the need to secure its borders, particularly those bordering Russia and Belarus, by creating a strategic defense line using multi-layered barriers, including anti-tank mines.
- In addition to physical barriers, Lithuania plans to counter hybrid threats by incorporating electronic warfare systems, anti-drone technology, and 27 engineering equipment parks along the border.
- Lithuania's decision to leave the Ottawa Convention is not an isolated move; countries like Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Poland have also chosen territorial defense over treaty obligations, reflecting a shared urgency for protection in the region.
