Lithuania has withdrawn from the Convention banning cluster munitions: all because of the threat from Russia

Lithuania has officially withdrawn from the international convention banning the purchase, use and production of cluster munitions.

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The country's parliament approved this decision on 18 July 2024, and in autumn Vilnius submitted the relevant documents to the UN. The six-month period required to withdraw from the agreement expired on 6 March 2025.

Lithuania justified its decision by the fact that Russia is actively using such munitions, and all possible means must be used to effectively deter aggression. Minister of Defence Laurinas Kasciunas said that the withdrawal from the Convention is due to the changing geopolitical situation and new threats.

After withdrawal from the treaty, Lithuania plans to purchase cluster munitions together with its allies. Vilnius is also considering the possibility of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines. The final decision is expected to be made in the coming months.

We would like to explain that cluster munitions contain submunitions designed to destroy manpower and equipment. Some of them may remain unexploded, which poses a threat to civilians even after the end of hostilities.

Source: LRT