Breakfast Briefing with Cornelius Wiesener 4 December 2025
The Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines and Cluster Munitions – What Now?
Abstract
There is a complex legal framework governing the use of certain weapons during times of war. While some prohibitions derive directly from international humanitarian law (IHL), others – such as those concerning anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions – are established through specialised arms control treaties. Due to the significant risks these weapons pose to the civilian population, the vast majority of states (including in Europe) ratified the 1995 Ottawa Convention (on anti-personnel mines) and the 2008 Dublin Convention (on cluster munitions).
Originally designed for large-scale conventional warfare, anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions were increasingly viewed as outdated tools with limited utility in modern military operations, particularly in modern stability missions. However, the war in Ukraine and renewed security concerns regarding Russia have prompted a reassessment of these weapons. Earlier this year, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, and Ukraine announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention. Lithuania – the only one among them party to the Dublin Convention – has also declared its withdrawal from that treaty.
This breakfast briefing examines the legal framework under both conventions as well as additional constrains on the use of anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions under IHL. It will also address the legal avenues for treaty amendment or withdrawal, and examine how Denmark, while remaining committed to both conventions, can engage in operational cooperation with allied forces that use anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions.
About the Speaker
Cornelius Wiesener is a tenure-track assistant professor at iCourts and a member of the InterMil project, which conducts strategic research and provides research-based public-sector consultancy within the field of military studies.
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