Today, the Estonian government took a decisive step by approving a draft proposal to present to the Riigikogu (Parliament), urging the nation to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel landmines. In a statement, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna expressed that this move was prompted by the increasingly perilous security landscape created by Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine.
“Russia, our greatest security threat, is not a party to the Ottawa Convention and has mined over 100,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory,” he said.
“It is essential for the Estonian Defence Forces to have greater flexibility and freedom in choosing weapons systems, considering the nature of the threats directed at us and the behavior of a potential adversary,” the minister emphasised.
As tensions rise in the region, Estonia is not alone in its decision; neighbouring countries—Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland—have also opted to either withdraw from the Ottawa Convention or set the necessary steps to do so in motion.
“With this step, Estonia sends a clear message: we are ready and capable of using all necessary measures to defend our territory and our freedom,” Tsahkna highlighted.
The government will take this significant proposal to the Riigikogu, where it will undergo two readings before a vote. To be adopted, the bill must secure a majority approval from the Parliament, marking a critical juncture in Estonia’s defense policy amidst escalating regional threats.
“Withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention does not affect Estonia’s ongoing commitment to international law, including the observance and protection of international humanitarian law,” the foreign minister stressed.
