Lithuania moves to withdraw from cluster munitions convention amid security concerns

Lithuania's Seimas approved a proposal to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, following its first reading on July 11.

The motion received 99 votes in favour, one against, and three abstentions, Caliber.Az reports via Lithuanian media.

Deputy Defence Minister Renius Pleškys defended the decision, citing the need to utilize all available means to enhance deterrence and defence. He highlighted that Lithuania's security landscape has significantly deteriorated since becoming a party to the convention, attributing this change primarily to Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Last week, the Lithuanian government endorsed a draft resolution proposing withdrawal from the convention and requested President Gitanas Nausėda to submit the denunciation motion to parliament, which he did on Monday.

According to the president's office, adherence to international legal restrictions imposed by the convention has been viewed as limiting Lithuania's and its allies' defence capabilities on its territory, thereby reducing deterrence effectiveness.

Pleškys clarified that cluster munitions would be retained solely for defensive purposes in response to aggression against Lithuania. Previously, there was scepticism within the presidential office about withdrawing from the convention, with concerns raised about potential damage to Lithuania's international reputation.

Among NATO member states bordering Russia, Lithuania and Norway are currently the only parties to the convention. The United States, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Türkiye are not parties to the convention, while many Western and Central European countries, along with Canada, are.

Lithuania acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2011, which prohibits the use, production, and acquisition of cluster munitions, and includes obligations to mitigate the humanitarian impact of these weapons. Cluster munitions are explosive weapons that eject smaller submunitions upon deployment.

In mid-July 2023, the United States controversially supplied these banned munitions to Ukraine, which is actively defending itself against Russian aggression.