Poland Considers Installing One Million Landmines Along Borders with Belarus and Russia

WARSAW, Poland — The Polish government has announced plans to increase domestic production of landmines following the announcement that the country, along with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, will withdraw from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Treaty.

Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda stated that the country will initiate the production of these weapons to protect the nation's eastern borders with Russia and Belarus.

“We want these mines to be produced in Poland, we have such capabilities. The issue is to increase those capabilities... and we treat both the private and state defense industries equally,” Bejda said in an interview with the local radio broadcaster RMF FM.

The Polish armed forces need landmines “in the order of several hundred thousand, up to 1 million” units, he added.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the process of withdrawing from the convention will involve the country's cabinet, parliament, and president, and will conclude with a notification to the United Nations. Following the notification, the withdrawal process could take about six months, he said.

Asked about details regarding the companies that might produce the mines, the deputy defense minister indicated that the Polish state defense group PGZ will be involved in the production.

Meanwhile, Latvia is “examining all possible options regarding strengthening Latvia's deterrence and defense capabilities,” said Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds.

The Baltic nation “must prepare as Russia continues to pose a serious threat to the region, regardless of the evolving hostilities in Ukraine. Withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention has the potential to ensure the production of anti-personnel mines,” Sprūds said.