On February 20, Poland officially withdrew from the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty that prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines. This decision comes in response to increasing security concerns related to Russia, particularly along Poland’s eastern border.
Pawel Zalewski, Poland’s Deputy Minister of Defense, announced the move, stating that anti-personnel and anti-tank mines are crucial components of the defense strategy being developed for NATO’s eastern flank. He emphasized the need for Poland to protect itself against Russia, which he described as having aggressive intentions toward its neighbors.
Zalewski noted that Poland plans to initiate domestic production of these mines in collaboration with local manufacturers, aiming for self-sufficiency in defense capabilities. This marks a significant shift in Poland’s military policy, as the country had previously ratified the Ottawa Convention in 2012 and completed the destruction of its stockpiles of anti-personnel mines by 2016.
The Ottawa Convention, signed in 1997, prohibits signatories from using or stockpiling anti-personnel mines, which are known for causing long-lasting harm to civilians in post-conflict areas, such as Cambodia, Angola, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. By 2024, over 160 countries had joined the treaty, including Ukraine, which acceded in 2005.
Notably, Russia, along with the United States and China, has never signed the convention. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, neighboring countries have been reassessing their commitments to this international agreement. For instance, Ukraine’s parliament suspended its participation in the Ottawa Convention on July 15, 2025.
Poland’s withdrawal aligns with similar actions taken by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland, all of which have reconsidered their positions in light of Russian aggression. Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that following the official exit on February 20, 2026, Poland would be able to deploy anti-personnel mines along its eastern border within 48 hours if necessary.
Poland's recent decision to exit the Ottawa Convention reflects growing security concerns regarding Russia. The country plans to produce anti-personnel and anti-tank mines domestically to bolster its defense capabilities along its eastern border.