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NATO ships took part in an international mine countermeasures exercise off the coast of Latvia between 1 and 13 May 2026. Open Spirit 26 brought together Allied and Partner navies, enhanced regional security, strengthened interoperability, and reduced the threat posed Read More …
The Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) have told Latvian Television that two drones have crashed in Latvia’s eastern Latgale region overnight. The precise crash sites have yet to be specified, but early on the morning of Thursday, May 7th, airspace threat alerts were issued Read More …
A stray drone coming from Russian airspace hit a chimney at the Auvere power station in Ida-Viru County in Estonia on Wednesday morning. “According to the current information, the drone was not aimed at Estonia,” press officer of the Estonian Read More …
To mark Poland’s official withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention or the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, Julia Głębocka, Human rights researcher for Amnesty International Poland, reflects on what the return of these indiscriminate weapons means for human rights in Europe. Not Read More …
Civilian deaths and injuries from landmines and explosive remnants of war have risen to their highest level in four years, according to the Landmine Monitor 2025 report launched in Geneva on Monday. It documents 6,279 casualties in 2024. Children remain Read More …
An alleged mercenary has been arrested in London over a plot to kidnap the boss of an Albanian crime gang in revenge for a multimillion-pound drug theft. Latvian national Ainis Balodis, 45, was one of four men held in an Read More …
Mine Action Review today published Clearing the Mines 2025, its annual global assessment of anti-personnel (AP) mine contamination, survey, and clearance, ahead of the TwentySecond Meeting of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), taking place in Geneva Read More …
Ukraine, together with its international partners, is working to expand funding for the PURL program, which allows for the purchase of American weapons, including air defense systems and missiles for them. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Read More …
Five Nato countries neighbouring Russia or its ally, Belarus, have announced that they are to opt out of the Ottawa treaty of 1997. This treaty bans the use by signatories of anti-personnel (AP) landmines. These states – Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Read More …
LIEPAJA, Latvia – U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 conducted underwater clearance operations in the port of Liepaja as part of the multinational maritime exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 25. Their Read More …
The UN Secretary-General is set to launch a global campaign to boost support for disarmament and mine action. António Guterres announced the move in a statement issued on Monday, in response to plans by several UN Member States to withdraw from Read More …
The European Union has long stood at the forefront of the fight against anti-personnel landmines. Its early and active support for the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty reflected a shared European belief: that these weapons are inherently inhumane, fundamentally indiscriminate, and Read More …
Rights groups have expressed alarm and warned of a slippery slope of again embracing one of the world’s most treacherous weapons, after five European countries said they intend to withdraw from the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines. In announcing their Read More …
NORTHERN BALTIC SEA – After some days of coordinated operations, Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) has successfully wrapped up a focused Historical Ordnance Disposal Operation (HODOPS) effort in the Bay of Riga. While continuing its Baltic Sentry mission, Read More …
The Finnish government’s decision to prepare for withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel landmines risks weakening international law and damaging Finland’s global reputation, Amnesty Finland said on Monday. The treaty, which prohibits the use, production, storage and transfer of Read More …
As the world marks International Day of Mine Awareness, charities have issued a renewed call for more global action as demining efforts backslide. With many Baltic nations stating preparations to withdraw from the international convention against anti-personnel landmines, the International Read More …
NATO members Poland, Finland and all three Baltic states have queued up over the past few weeks to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, in the face of what they say are growing military threats from Russia. The Read More …
Poland and the Baltic states said on Tuesday that they want to withdraw from an international treaty banning anti-personnel mines, citing Russia’s growing military threat. In a joint statement, the defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland said they Read More …
Britain and its European allies must urgently regain the ability to deploy landmines if they are to be able to counter the “terrifying” threat posed by Russia, experts have warned. Finland, a new member of Nato in the wake of Read More …
Eight capability coalitions, each comprising between six and 21 countries, are actively assisting in addressing specific needs of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, according to Ukrinform. The Ministry noted that in September Read More …