Following the order from the Ministry of Defence, Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) performed an assessment of Latvia’s possible exit from the Ottawa Treaty or the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. The Latvian army concluded that the country should not abandon this treaty, as confirmed by NBS representative Sandra Brāle.
She says Lt. Gen. Leonīds Kalniņš points towards the fact that creation of defensive lines and other obstacles plays a very important role in state defence. However, focusing on anti-personnel miles as the main factor for tactical victory is a simplified approach.
Kalniņš stresses there are multiple operational aspects as to why Latvia’s armed forces are against Latvia abandoning the Ottawa Treaty.
“First of all, anti-personnel mines are only a small element that contributes to anti-mobility measures. Secondly, anti-personnel mines are not effective against mechanised infantry and heavily armoured units. Thirdly, enormous human resources would be necessary to ensure 24/7 monitoring of mine fields in peace time,” explains Kalniņš.
Kalniņš notes that for years Latvian armed forces have been focusing on priority directions to reinforce anti-mobility capabilities, such as increasing firepower, introducing anti-personnel sensors on a wide scale, as well as adopting of remote-controlled anti-personnel mine equivalents.
The commander of Latvian national armed forces stresses that from a legal standpoint the Ottawa Treaty does not ban anti-tank mines
and remotely-controlled anti-personnel mines and other anti-mobility measures to halt the advance of mechanised units while also reducing the risk of death among civilians and animals during peace and wartime.
“There are weapon systems that are more effective and more modern than anti-personnel mines – with direct and indirect firepower that allows reaching the same or an even better effect. We have been working in this direction for the past several years,” says Kalniņš.
National Armed Forces also state that there are 164 countries part of the Ottawa Treaty. This is why procurement of anti-personnel mines, considering their availability and possible origin from outside the countries that are members in the treaty, would be irrational, wrong and very complicated.
As previously reported, a signature collection campaign was launched on Manabalss.lv to secure Latvia’s exit from the Ottawa Treaty.
Also read: Campaign launched to collect signatures to allow Latvia use anti-personnel mines
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