European Nations Exit Landmine Ban Sparks Southeast Asian Fears
Several European countries are withdrawing from the anti-personnel landmine treaty, raising concerns in mine-affected Southeast Asian nations about renewed weapons proliferation.
A growing exodus of European nations from the landmark 1997 Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel landmines is sending shockwaves through Southeast Asia, where decades of conflict have left a devastating legacy of buried explosives that continue to maim and kill civilians.
The treaty, formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, has been hailed as one of the most successful disarmament agreements in modern history. However, recent geopolitical tensions have prompted several European states to reconsider their commitments, citing national security concerns.
Southeast Asia's Painful History with Landmines
Countries across Southeast Asia bear the scars of extensive landmine contamination from conflicts spanning the latter half of the 20th century. Cambodia remains one of the world's most heavily mined countries, with an estimated 4-6 million landmines and unexploded ordnance still buried throughout the nation. Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar similarly struggle with massive contamination that continues to claim innocent lives decades after conflicts ended.
In Cambodia alone, more than 64,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance since 1979, according to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre. The country has made significant progress in recent years, clearing over 2,000 square kilometers of contaminated land, but vast areas remain dangerous.
Regional Concerns Over Treaty Erosion
Government officials and humanitarian organizations across the region worry that European withdrawals could signal a broader weakening of international norms against landmine use. This concern is particularly acute given ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea and persistent conflict zones in Myanmar.
The timing of these withdrawals coincides with increased military tensions globally, including the conflict in Ukraine, where both conventional and improvised landmines have been extensively deployed. Southeast Asian officials fear this could normalize landmine use and potentially slow international funding for demining operations.
Implications for Demining Efforts
Beyond the symbolic impact, the withdrawal of European nations could have practical consequences for ongoing clearance operations. Many European countries have been significant contributors to international demining funds and technical expertise. Reduced commitment to the treaty framework might translate into decreased financial support for clearance programs.
Humanitarian organizations operating in the region emphasize that demining is not just about removing explosives—it's about enabling communities to reclaim agricultural land, allowing children safe passage to school, and facilitating economic development in previously inaccessible areas.
Looking Forward
As the international consensus on landmine prohibition appears to weaken, Southeast Asian nations find themselves in a precarious position. The region's experience demonstrates the long-term humanitarian and economic costs of these weapons, making the current trend toward treaty abandonment particularly troubling for governments still grappling with explosive remnants of past conflicts.
