International Campaign to Ban Landmines Condemns US Decision to Transfer Antipersonnel Landmines to Ukraine

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) strongly condemns the Biden administration's reported decision to transfer antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine, as revealed by the Washington Post today. This alarming development not only contradicts the United States' own declared policy against landmine transfers but also threatens to undermine decades of progress in eliminating these indiscriminate weapons.

"This decision is unconscionable and represents a dangerous setback in the global fight against landmines," said Tamar Gabelnick, Director of ICBL. "As the world's largest donor to mine clearance efforts, the United States is now paradoxically contributing to the very problem it spends hundreds of millions of dollars annually to solve."

The reported transfer violates core principles of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, to which Ukraine is a State Party. The treaty explicitly prohibits the acquisition, stockpiling, and use of antipersonnel landmines under any circumstances. Furthermore, this action contradicts the Biden administration's own policy, which prohibits landmine transfers except for specific purposes such as detection and removal.

The human cost of this decision cannot be overstated. Ukraine already faces decades of demining work due to extensive Russian landmine use. Adding new mines to this contamination will only extend the suffering of civilians and complicate post-conflict recovery efforts. Even mines equipped with "self-destruct" or "self-deactivating" mechanisms pose significant risks, as these features do not always function as intended and still require dangerous and costly demining operations.

As the international community prepares to gather at the fifth Review Conference on the Mine Ban Treaty in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on 25 November, ICBL calls on the Biden administration to immediately reverse this decision and reaffirm its commitment to its stated landmine policy. The ICBL also urges Ukraine to demonstrate its firm commitment to the Mine Ban Treaty by refusing to accept this transfer. The ICBL expects the 163 other States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty to vocally condemn this development at the Review Conference and to commit to taking concrete action to prevent any transfers or use of the weapon by any actor, under any circumstances.

“The international community is needed today more than ever to strengthen, not undermine, the global norm against these devastating weapons,” added Alma Taslidzan, ICBL Board Chair. “The integrity of the Mine Ban Treaty and the safety of civilians depend on our collective response to this alarming development.”

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About ICBL

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines is a global network of non-governmental organizations working to eliminate antipersonnel landmines. ICBL was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for its efforts to bring about the Mine Ban Treaty. Our network includes human rights, humanitarian, children, peace, disability, veterans, medical, mine action, development, arms control, religious, environmental, and women's groups.

For more information

Visit www.icblcmc.org/abouticbl | www.the-monitor.org/reports/landmine-monitor-2024

Read the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines Statement 

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Contact us

Charles Bechara, ICBL-CMC Communications and Media Manager (English, French, Arabic) Mobile/WhatsApp: +41 (0) 78 323 51 44 Email: media@icblcmc.org