President Biden’s reversal of a 2022 pledge to restrict the use of anti-personnel land mines has drawn strong condemnation from human rights groups, following reports in Politico.
International human rights organizations sharply criticized President Biden’s decision to provide Ukraine with anti-personnel landmines, a move they say violates his 2022 commitment to limit their use.
The action has provoked widespread outrage, with advocates highlighting the devastating and long-lasting consequences of these weapons.
“Anti-personnel land mines are indiscriminate weapons that cause civilian casualties, particularly among children, for generations after conflicts end,” stated Hichem Khadhraoui, executive director of the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC). “These weapons fail to distinguish between combatants and civilians, violating international humanitarian law.”
“President Biden’s decision is deeply troubling and shocking, especially so close to the end of his presidency,” commented Ben Linden, a senior official at Amnesty International USA.
Biden’s about-face follows growing NATO concerns about Russia’s military advances in eastern Ukraine.
The US described the provided mines as “non-persistent,” meaning they deactivate once their battery power is depleted, unlike traditional landmines.
“These mines are electrically fused and require battery power to function. They become inert when the battery dies,” explained a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to defend the White House’s decision.
However, critics contend that these safety features don’t eliminate the inherent risks. Ukrainian government estimates indicate that nearly 130,000 square kilometers of pre-2014 Ukraine – an area larger than England – require mine clearance.
This decision follows Biden’s 2023 provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine, another controversial move due to the weapons’ potential to harm civilians. This contrasts sharply with his 2022 policy restricting US use or transfer of anti-personnel mines, except in Korea. This policy reversed a decision by President Trump to expand landmine use.
The White House reportedly requested Ukraine to limit mine use to its own territory and avoid civilian areas; however, human rights groups remain unconvinced.
While over 160 nations have signed the 1997 Ottawa Treaty prohibiting the production and transfer of anti-personnel mines, the US and Russia are not among them. Ukraine, a signatory to the treaty, violates its obligations by accepting these mines. Activists warn that Biden’s decision risks normalizing landmine use in one of the world’s most heavily mined conflict zones.