Campaigners sound alarm as European nations move to exit landmine ban | Weapons technology | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/apr/27/campaigners-sound-alarm-as-european-nations-move-to-exit-landmine-ban
Oh boy, that's not good!
Moves by five NATO countries to quit a treaty banning the use of landmines have experts worried, ahead of a Geneva meeting aiming to boost efforts on ridding the world of the explosive ordnance. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/08/world/politics/countries-landmine-treaty-nato/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #nato #landmines #poland #lithuania #latvia #estonia #finland #russia
@ScienceDesk @CNN I was in Siem Reap Cambodia in February 2025. If you ever go make sure you check https://apopo.org/support-us/apopo-visitor-center/ A real eye-opener #Landmines
Super Rat: the record-setting rodent sniffing out landmines and saving lives.
From @CNN: "Rats don’t always have the best reputations, but one named Ronin with a super sense of smell is working to change that."
Decisions, decisions. Certainly more decisions to come on UK and European defence.
Landmines are a starter issue. Defensive-only and cheap to build, but so nasty that most decent countries officially banned anti-personnel mines.
Thinking now about the young people who'll either volunteer or be conscripted to serve as our deterrent/defence, and the embarrassing gap while the US withdraws, I'd like them to have enough tools for the job.
1/2
#landmines #UKpol
https://news.sky.com/story/growing-calls-for-uk-to-withdraw-from-treaty-banning-landmines-13341742
Interesting disagreement among #Nordic Europeans about #LandMines
https://mastodon.social/@hanse_mina/114271786079750098
hanse_mina@mastodon.social - Norway criticizes Finland’s move to quit land mine treaty
“If we start weakening our commitment, it makes it easier for warring factions around the world to use these weapons again, because it reduces the stigma,” says Norwegian foreign minister.
Norway criticises Finland’s move to quit a land mine treaty.
Norway will not withdraw from the international Ottawa convention banning anti-personnel mines like Finland did.
“If we start weakening our commitment, it makes it easier for warring factions around the world to use these weapons again, because it reduces the stigma,” Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said Wednesday.
Finland becomes the latest country in Eastern Europe (following Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia) to exit the Ottawa Convention banning antipersonnel landmines. Poland has previously announced they will mine their border with Russia and Belarus.
https://www.politico.eu/article/finland-will-exit-landmine-treaty-spend-3-percent-of-gdp-on-defense/
#Finland following #Poland, #Estonia, #Latvia and #Lithuania doing so- that's all the nations who have eastern borders with #Russia or #Belarus
https://mastodon.social/@hanse_mina/114263154069632435
hanse_mina@mastodon.social - NATO member Finland plans to quit a global convention banning anti-personnel #landmines and boost defence spending to at least 3% of GDP by 2029 in response to the evolving military threat from Russia, the government said on Tuesday.
Poland is ready to resume the production of anti-personnel mines, after Warsaw joined the Baltic states this week in announcing a plan to withdraw from a treaty that bans their use. Quitting the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which has been ratified or acceded to by more than 160 nations, will allow the countries to start stockpiling and using anti-personnel mines again, part of their response to what they say is a rising threat from Russia.
#Poland #landmines #Russia #Ukraine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoZ4sRlSSWo
#Finland will withdraw from the #Ottawa Treaty in the near future.
This move allows the country to reintroduce anti-personnel #landmines into the country's #defense strategy.
NATO members Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia plan to withdraw from the Ottawa convention banning antipersonnel landmines due to the military threat from their neighbor Russia. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/19/world/politics/poland-baltic-landmine-convention/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #nato #poland #lithuania #latvia #estonia #ukraine #russia #russiaukrainewar #landmines
Poland and Baltic nations to pull out of landmines accord.
Poland and the Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are withdrawing from the Ottawa convention banning anti-personnel mines, the four countries, which all share a border with Russia, said in a joint statement.
Quitting the 1997 treaty will allow the countries to start stockpiling landmines again.
Even if the #Ukrainewar ended tomorrow, and everyone hopes that can happen, the tragedy doesn't end there.
23% of Ukraine’s territory is potentially mined.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, sappers have surveyed, de-mined, or cleared over 35,000 km² of #Ukrainian land—an area larger than #Odesa Oblast, the largest region in #Ukraine
Potentially thousands of people will be injured or maimed by these #landmines for many years to come.
Original source: https://t.me/liveukraine_media/29652
It has been almost 35 years since the end of the Yugoslavia wars in #Croatia, and they are still not free of #landmines. When you think of #Ukraine, think of how long it will take them to rebuild and recover.
https://www.croatiaweek.com/croatia-set-to-be-cleared-of-landmines-by-march-next-year/
Poland announces military training plan for all men.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced a slew of measures aimed at boosting his country's defence, including large-scale military training for men and a possible exit from a landmark anti-mines treaty.
“Hopes that #Cambodia will be free of #landmines &…#UXOs by the end of this year have been dashed by US President Donald #Trump, who has announced a freeze on foreign aid, most notably through…#USAID. As a result, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (#CMAC) has announced the suspension of operations for 85 days from Jan25 across 8 provinces: Kampong Cham, Kratie, Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Stung Treng, Tboung Khmum, Svay Rieng, & Prey Veng. | UCA https://www.ucanews.com/news/cambodia-suspends-demining-after-trumps-usaid-freeze/107763
After War, Leftover Bombs Kill. Trump Froze Funding for Cleaning Them Up. End result is more death and injuries.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/trump-us-aid-frozen-demining-bombs-marco-rubio-state-department/ #Trump #War #Environment #Bombs #IEDs #Landmines #Politics
