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The conventions banning mines and cluster munitions

In 2025, five European states announced plans to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, which bans the use of landmines:

• On 18 March 2025, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland jointly announced their intention to withdraw.
• On 1 April, Finland’s President also announced plans to withdraw  

The withdrawals will come into effect six months after they deposit their notice to withdraw. On 6 March 2025, Lithuania formally withdrew from the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

The moves come in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fears of possible Russian military aggression towards European countries, and a re-evaluation of their defence needs by these countries.

In 2025, the UK Government said it remains committed to the Ottawa Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

This briefing explains what the conventions are, discussions about withdrawal, the use of mines and cluster munitions worldwide and in Ukraine, and the UK position.

About the conventions/treaties

There are two conventions that prohibit the production, use, stockpile or transfer of anti-personnel land mines and cluster munitions by States Parties:

• The 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction came into force in 1999. It is also known as the mine ban treaty, the Ottawa Convention or Ottawa Treaty, or the anti-personnel mine ban convention. These terms are used interchangeably in this briefing. 164 countries are party to the convention.
• The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force in 2010. It prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. 111 countries are party to the convention.

The NGO Mines Advisory Group (MAG) has said the conventions have been “pivotal in reducing the humanitarian harm posed” by these weapons.

Countries leaving the conventions

Lithuania withdrew from the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 6 March 2025, having given the required notice to withdraw. Lithuania explicitly referred to Russia’s use of cluster munitions in Ukraine, and the evolving regional security dynamics, in explaining its withdrawal (PDF).

On 18 March 2025, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland jointly announced their intention to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty. The Baltic nations had previously indicated considering such a move in early 2024. The countries explained their decision was because of the declining security situation in Europe:

We believe that in the current security environment it is paramount to provide our defence forces flexibility and freedom of choice to potentially use new weapons systems and solutions to bolster the defence of the Alliance’s vulnerable Eastern Flank.

On 1 April, Finland also announced plans to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty. Finland had previously said that Russia’s use of mines in Ukraine had prompted it to re-evaluate the potential use of mines.

They will formally leave the Ottawa Treaty six months after they each submit an instrument of withdrawal.

Effects worldwide

Human Rights Watch describes mines and cluster munitions as “often indiscriminate weapons” which “predominantly affect civilians”.

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines and the Cluster Munitions Coalition produce annual reports on the use of both weapons globally (see box 1).

The UK is a signatory to both conventions

The UK is a signatory to both conventions and has transposed both into UK law: Landmines Act 1998 and the Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Act 2010. Successive governments have discouraged States from using cluster munitions or anti-personnel mines, and encourages non-States Party to accede to each convention. The UK supports mine clearance operations globally.

This briefing was first published on 14 February 2025.