Land Mines Making a Comeback? Europe’s Border Defense Shift

Sat Jun 13 2026 17:02:58 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Five countries consider reintroducing a controversial weapon to safeguard against Russian threats.

With rising tensions from the Ukraine conflict, Poland, the Baltic States, and Finland eye a controversial move to revive land mines, shifting the post-Cold War security landscape and prompting outrage among anti-mine advocates.

As the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to impact Europe, five nations neighboring Russia are contemplating the revival of land mines—an explosive weapon banned by international treaty for over 25 years. In the wake of Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Poland, the three Baltic states, and Finland have revealed plans to potentially withdraw from a mine ban treaty that took effect in 1999.

During the Cold War, land mines were used to prevent crossings along the Iron Curtain, but after its fall, global efforts spearheaded by anti-mine groups and figures like Princess Diana led to a worldwide treaty banning these indiscriminate weapons.

Despite Nigeria's recent upsurge in such discussions, experts indicate that immediate deployment is unlikely, as it takes six months to formally exit the treaty. However, the idea has incited significant backlash from anti-mine activists. Tamar Gabelnick, director of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, expressed fierce disapproval of this shift, highlighting the worry that it undermines decades of progress toward abolishing these perilous devices.