Lithuania will begin efforts to withdraw from the international Convention on Cluster Muntions, a treaty organisation established in 2008, which the Baltic State joined as a ‘State Party’ in 2010.
Also referred to as the Oslo Process, after the Norwegian capital where the treaty was formalised, the treaty is bolstered by 112 ‘state parties’ and 12 ‘signatories’. The difference is that the former status is based on the requirements being approved by a government body, while signatory governments keep good faith with the treaty’s principles.
The Convention agree to end the use of cluster munitions; no longer develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain them or transfer to anyone, directly or indirectly; and never to assist, encourage or induce anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party.
In a press release on 3 July 2024, the Lithuanian government explained that it reversed its decision to use the contentious projectile – an explosive weapon system that scatters sub-muntions indiscriminately – as “the assessment of feasible threats has changed radically since then.”
Cluster munitions are highly effective in large territory defence and an efficiency multiplier against large spectrum targets. Replacing standard ammunition with cluster ammunition reduces the logistical burden and costs around half of what it takes for a significantly smaller amount of ammunition to achieve the same impact.
Withdrawal process
A resolution will be drafted and presented to the national parliament and the president, Gitanas Nausėda, that will denounce the Convention. If the resolution passes, Lithuania will withdraw and the nation will no longer be prohibited to procure, stockpile and use cluster munitions.
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles
on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Company Profile – free
sample
Your download email will arrive shortly
We are confident about the
unique
quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most
beneficial
decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by
submitting the below form
By GlobalData
“The security environment has deteriorated, military risks to Lithuania [have] grown,” added the Ministry of National Defence in their release. “The Russian Federation has become a direct threat to the Republic of Lithuania, all of which requires to revisit provisions of the Convention from the perspective of national security.”
Despite their prosepctive withdrawal, the government also stipulated that Lithuania will still be bound the UN Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols thus ensuring protection of civilians according to the norms of international humanitarian law.
Controversy and use in Ukraine
In June 2023, US President Joe Biden pledged to send an $800m package to Ukraine, including controversial cluster munitions. The US alongside China, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and numerous others do not subscribe to the Convention.
With both sides in the Eastern European war unable to claim much success, US politicians and military leaders pushed for the vast stocks of cluster munitions held by the US government to be used in Ukraine.
The deployment of cluster munitions by the US is latest use of the US stockpile since Iraq in 2003, later being banned from use or movement if the failure rate of the munition exceeds 1%.
Although, the Human Rights Watch reported that Russia had already been using such weapons since the beginning of the war, and these have had “predictable and lasting harm to hundreds of Ukrainian civilians.”
