More and more NATO countries—Poland, Finland, and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, recently took steps to exclude themselves from the Ottawa Convention, the 1997 international treaty banning the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. They have made this move amid mounting fears of Russian military threats, potentially reversing years of worldwide disarmament efforts.

These countries believe that the present geopolitical situation, especially Russia’s belligerent stance, requires more adaptable defense policies. With U.S. President Donald Trump calling for an end to fighting in Ukraine, some nations are concerned that any ensuing respite would give Russia time to regroup and divert its attention to bordering European nations.

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The withdrawing countries’ officials have also said that withdrawal would help achieve equality with countries like Russia, which never became a signatory to the treaty. The same holds true of the United States, China, India, and Israel—none of them having signed or ratified the convention.

Norway, in particular, has opted to stay within the treaty. Even as it recognized increased threats, Norwegian officials stated, “for all the increased threats, it was important to maintain the stigma around the weapons.”

While these nations prepare to leave the Ottawa Convention, international demining efforts are at the same time being crippled by what the International Campaign to Ban Landmines describes as “crippling” reductions in funding from the United States. Traditionally, the U.S. has been the biggest donor to mine-clearing efforts, providing more than $300 million a year, approximately 40% of all international funding, according to the 2024 Landmine Monitor report.

Despite one State Department representative saying in March that ‘it has restarted some global humanitarian demining programs and activities’, details have not otherwise been made known. Previously, the U.S. had sweeping demining campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Laos.

Anti-personnel mines, often buried underground, are activated by human contact or proximity. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), over 80% of all people injured or killed by the explosives are civilians.

The Ottawa Convention also contains directives to assist victims—most of whom have suffered amputations and endure lifelong disabilities. In October 2024, the United Nations labeled Ukraine the world’s most mined country, noting around 1,286 civilian deaths from mines and explosive ordnance through August of that year.

The treaty called for nations to eliminate their landmine inventories within four years of signing. But not all signatories did so. Poland has now signaled its plans to resume producing landmines, causing additional alarm among disarmament activists.

Some countries withdrawing from the landmine prohibition are also considering withdrawal from the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. The weapons spread smaller bombs across vast distances, causing prolonged harm. The United States—also not a signatory to that convention—provided cluster bombs to Ukraine in 2023 to strengthen its defense against Russian troops