Poland and the Baltic countries have announced that they plan to withdraw from the Ottawa treaty, which prohibits the use of landmines, also known as personal and anti-personnel mines.
The four EU and NATO countries say in a joint statement that since they signed the agreement, the threat from Russia has increased significantly. Over 160 countries have signed the treaty, but not the USA and Russia.
Poland's Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz says that it is "a very strong political stance that shows how determined we are to defend our homelands".
In early December, the Christian Democrats and the Sweden Democrats opened up to reintroducing landmines in the Swedish defense. The Moderate Party, on the other hand, has rejected the idea and says it stands behind the Ottawa treaty.
