Foreign Minister Tsahkna: We can't prohibit ourselves from using weapons that Russia is prepared to use against us
Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
18.03.2025
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said he was in close contact with neighbouring and nearby countries to make common moves towards withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention that bans anti-personnel mines, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was working on a draft law to that effect. The Riigikogu will decide on the withdrawal from the convention.
"Our neighbour Russia is an aggressor who is and remains the most serious security threat to not just Estonia but to all of Europe," Tsahkna said. "Compared to 2004, when Estonia joined the convention, the security situation has deteriorated considerably because for more than three years now, Russia has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine. Russia is seriously violating its international obligations, using military aggression to achieve its goals, and has withdrawn from international agreements or is blatantly violating them.
The foreign minister said that in light of the current security environment, it was essential to evaluate all measures to strengthen our deterrence and defence capabilities, and provide our defence forces with the necessary flexibility and freedom of choice.
"Russia has not joined the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines, and it is not right that we are prohibiting ourselves from using weapons that Russia is prepared to use against us."
The foreign minister said discussions over the Ottawa Convention were underway in our neighbouring and nearby countries. Today, the defence ministers of the Baltic States and Poland released a joint statement on plans to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention.
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