Biden’s Controversial Move: US Authorizes ‘Nonpersistent’ Landmines for Ukraine.
Washington, D.C.: In a decision that has reignited global debate, US President Joe Biden has reportedly authorized the transfer of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine, further escalating the military aid being provided to the war-torn country.
According to a Washington Post report, the newly authorized landmines are described as “nonpersistent,” meaning they are designed to self-destruct or deactivate within a set timeframe, in an effort to minimize the risks to civilian populations.
Ukrainian officials have pledged to restrict the use of these landmines to non-populated areas, focusing on the embattled eastern front where Russian forces have made significant gains.
A US official told the Washington Post that the mines were “made specifically to combat” the waves of Russian troops attacking Ukrainian lines, causing heavy losses.
“When they’re used in concert with the other munitions that we already are providing Ukraine, the intent is that they will contribute to a more effective defense,” the official explained.
While neither the US nor Russia is a signatory to the Ottawa Convention, which bans the deployment and transfer of such mines, Ukraine is a party to the treaty.
Rights Watch has denounced the move, calling it “shocking and devastating,” with the organization’s deputy director, Mary Wareham, warning that even “nonpersistent” mines can still endanger civilians, hinder cleanup efforts, and may not always be safely deactivated.
Furthermore, the deployment of US-supplied anti-personnel mines could influence other nations to reconsider their stances on the Ottawa Convention.
Earlier this year, Baltic states like Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia debated leaving the treaty to strengthen their defenses against Russian aggression, before ultimately deciding to reinforce antitank measures instead.
