On Tuesday 18 March, the Polish Ministry of Defence announced the common position of 4 NATO countries: Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. Defence Ministers recommended withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which was ratified by the Polish Sejm in 2012. This Convention prohibits, inter alia, the use, production, retention and transfer of anti-personnel mines and commits to demining areas. Its signatories do not include countries specified as the USA, China or Russia.
Russia announces retaliation against Poland and another NATO countries
The joint declaration of 4 NATO associate states commented in an interview with RIA Novosti, Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zacharowa.
"Of course, we will take retaliatory steps to guarantee national defence and security, including military-technical actions," said Zacharova.
As the spokeswoman of Russian diplomacy added, specified a decision would lead to further escalation of tensions and worsening of the regional and global safety situation.
At the same time, she stated that the message issued by 4 NATO countries shows them "a slight approach to global legal commitments".
Currently there are no anti-personnel mines at the borders of Poland with Russia and Belarus. However, as Deputy Minister of National Defence Paweł Bejda stated in an interview with RMF FM, it is planned to introduce them under the NATO programme “East Tarcza”.
