Poland Pulls Out of Treaty Banning Antipersonnel Mines, Says It Will Use Them to Defend Against Russia

Poland has formally withdrawn from the 1997 Anti‑Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, commonly known as the Ottawa Convention, and announced it will resume production and potential deployment of antipersonnel mines along its eastern border as part of its defence strategy against growing concerns over Russian aggression. The move marks a significant shift in Warsaw’s defence policy and has attracted international attention from governments, human rights organisations and military analysts alike.
Withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty
On 20 February 2026, Poland officially exited the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits signatory states from producing, stockpiling and using antipersonnel landmines — weapons widely criticised for their long‑term danger to civilians in conflict zones. Poland had ratified the treaty in 2012 and completed the destruction of its stockpile by 2016, fully complying with the ban until now.
Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Zalewski told the Associated Press that the withdrawal was driven by what Warsaw sees as a deteriorating security environment in Eastern Europe and the need to fortify its borders with both Russia and Belarus under the country’s ongoing Eastern Shield defence initiative. He said antipersonnel and anti‑tank mines would be considered “important elements” of Poland’s defensive structure if confrontation with Russia became imminent.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that, following the exit, Warsaw would soon have the capability to deploy minefields along its eastern frontiers within 48 hours if necessary, part of broader efforts to strengthen territorial deterrence.
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Strategic Rationale and Regional Context
Poland’s decision comes amid persistent security anxieties linked to Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine and what Warsaw and other NATO capitals view as unpredictable Russian military behaviour. Russia has never ratified the Ottawa Convention, and neither have other major powers such as the United States and China.
The Week
Neighbouring NATO states — including Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — have already either announced intentions to withdraw or completed their departures from the treaty, citing similar defence concerns. Warsaw’s action aligns with this wider reassessment of land‑mine related restrictions by countries bordering Russia and Belarus, all seeking greater tactical latitude in case of conflict escalation.
The New Voice of Ukraine
“Given the length of our eastern border and the nature of the threat we face,” Tusk said, “we must have every tool necessary for defence.” He added that readiness to lay antipersonnel mines was intended as a deterrent rather than an indication of aggressive intent.
The New Voice of Ukraine
Defence Plans and Production
Polish officials have stated that the country will restart domestic production of antipersonnel mines alongside anti‑tank variants, aiming for self‑sufficiency rather than reliance on imported ordnance. This marks a reversal of a decade of compliance with international norms intended to eliminate mines altogether.
Anti‑tank mines, which detonate under the weight of vehicles rather than individuals, were not banned under the Ottawa Convention and have been part of Warsaw’s defensive planning for some time. But the resumption of antipersonnel mine manufacturing — which targets individual foot soldiers — represents a more controversial shift.
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Human Rights and Safety Concerns
Human rights organisations have strongly condemned the decision, warning that antipersonnel mines have a long history of indiscriminate and lasting harm to civilian populations, often remaining lethal long after conflicts end. Mines have caused extensive casualties in countries such as Cambodia, Angola, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they remain a danger decades after war has ceased.
Zalewski responded to these criticisms by emphasising that Poland intends to keep mines in reserve and use them only in the event of a “realistic threat” of Russian aggression, and not to exclude affected land from normal civilian use during peacetime. He said that Warsaw aimed to balance strong defence with safety considerations, but many observers doubt that risk can be fully mitigated once mines are deployed.
NATO and Allied Reactions
The policy shift has raised questions among NATO allies about coordination and broader defensive strategy along the alliance’s eastern flank. While many NATO members have similarly revised their positions on landmine bans, the issue remains divisive within the alliance, particularly where civilian humanitarian concerns intersect with military preparedness.
The Week
Officials stress that Poland remains committed to NATO collective defence and to upholding other international legal obligations, even as it diverges on this particular treaty commitment. They argue that defending soberly and effectively against potential aggression requires flexibility in military planning.
Conclusion
Poland’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention and its resumption of antipersonnel mine production highlights a profound shift in security policy driven by geopolitical realities and concerns over Russian intentions. The move reflects broader trends among NATO states on the eastern edge of the alliance, but also renews debates about the humanitarian and civilian implications of landmine use.
While Warsaw insists its stance is defensive and measured, human rights groups and some international observers fear that reintroducing mines could bring long‑term dangers to civilian populations and complicate post‑conflict recovery if hostilities were ever to erupt. Whether this policy will deter aggression or create new risks remains at the centre of a growing international conversation.