The Ottawa Convention on Anti-Personnel Mines

Published on 13 Oct 2025

• NATO members Poland, Finland, and the Baltic states have recently moved to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention due to rising military threats from Russia. 

• The Ottawa Treaty (1997) bans anti-personnel landmines, which cause significant harm to civilians, making up over 80% of victims (according to the International Committee of the Red Cross). even after wars have ended.

• The treaty defines anti-personnel mines as those triggered by a person’s presence or proximity, designed to incapacitate, injure, or kill. 

• Countries were required to destroy their landmine stockpiles within four years under the treaty.

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Keywords:

The Ottawa Convention on Anti-Personnel Mines Ottawa Convention NATO Military Security landmines