Due to the risk of Russian invasion, Lithuania wants to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions

Due to the risk of Russian invasion, Lithuania wants to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions Anastasia Kushpit

Lithuania plans to withdraw from the convention banning cluster munitions/U.S.Navy

Lithuania has decided to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which it joined in 2011. The Lithuanian government approved a draft resolution on July 3.

Lithuania is taking this step amid concern in the Baltic countries about a possible Russian invasion.< /p>

What gives Lithuania a way out of this Convention

Cluster munitions are banned in more than 100 countries around the world due to excessive harm to civilians. However, Russia is actively using these munitions in the war against Ukraine.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense is convinced that in the event of an armed conflict, Russia and Belarus will undoubtedly use cluster munitions against their country, which will give them a military advantage.

Therefore, after Lithuania withdraws from the Convention, it will also be able to buy, store and use this type of weapon.

< p class="bloquote cke-markup">Even if our allies wanted to use this tool on our territory, they would not be able to do this, not even transport it through Lithuania,” said the country’s Minister of Defense Laurynas Kasciunas.

The resolution to withdraw from the Convention must still be approved by the parliament, after which it will be signed by President Gitanas Nausėda.

The idea itself first appeared among the Lithuanians in last year, when the US began supplying cluster munitions to Ukraine.