Riga, 16 April 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Latvia has become the first Baltic state to withdraw from an international agreement banning anti-personnel landmines.

The parliament in Riga on Wednesday approved the exit from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of all types of anti-personnel mines, which are considered particularly cruel weapons.

The Saeima, Latvia's parliament, followed a recent joint recommendation from the defence ministers of the other Baltic states - Estonia and Lithuania - and Poland. Latvia is the first to have taken the measure all the way to a final parliament vote.

The parliament justified the withdrawal by citing the security situation in the Baltic region, which it said has changed significantly since Latvia joined the Ottawa Convention 20 years ago.

The exit comes after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour, Ukraine, more than three years ago.

The Latvian decision will take effect six months after the withdrawal declaration is submitted to the United Nations.

The Ottawa Convention or Treaty was concluded in 1997 and has since been signed by more than 160 countries, including all European Union countries.

Russia, the United States and China, never joined the treaty. Russia's war against Ukraine is seen as a direct threat to national security in the four NATO states.

The Baltic states and Poland all share a border with Russia. Latvia and Estonia have land borders with Russia, while Lithuania and Poland border the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad.

Photo: EPA illustration