Poland plans to deploy anti-personnel mines on border with Belarus and Russia

Polish authorities intend to deploy anti-personnel mines along the defensive fortifications of the "East Shield", a new security initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s border with Belarus and Russia, according to Pawel Bejda, Deputy Minister of Defence.

"This [anti-personnel mines] will be one of the elements of the 'East Shield'," Bejda stated during an interview with Polish radio, per Caliber.Az.

Bejda revealed that Poland plans to manufacture up to one million anti-personnel mines domestically. The production will be carried out by the Polish Weapons Group, though he refrained from sharing further details.

On March 18, defence ministers from Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania jointly proposed that their countries withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Treaty, which prohibits the use, production, and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines.

A joint statement released by the four NATO member states cited growing security concerns along their borders with Russia and Belarus.

"Military threats to NATO member states bordering Russia and Belarus have significantly increased," the statement reads. "We believe that in the current security environment, it is paramount to provide our defense forces with flexibility and freedom of choice to potentially use new weapons systems and solutions to bolster the defence of the alliance’s vulnerable Eastern flank."

The Ottawa Treaty, also known as the Mine Ban Treaty, was established in 1997 to eliminate landmines due to their devastating humanitarian impact. The agreement prohibits their use, production, and transfer, requiring signatory states to destroy stockpiles and clear mined areas.

However, the treaty has come under increased scrutiny as Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine has led frontline states to reconsider their defence strategies.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has already announced plans to begin the process of withdrawing from the treaty, a move that has been under discussion for some time among Eastern European NATO members.

Despite the proposed withdrawal, the defence ministers emphasized that their move is primarily a political message to Moscow rather than an immediate military necessity.

As of 2025, over 160 countries remain signatories to the treaty. However, major military powers — including the United States, Russia, and China — have not signed or ratified it.

By Tamilla Hasanova