This is Joe Biden's second major strategic turnaround in a few days, but this one is proving more controversial, with considerable humanitarian and economic consequences for the Ukrainians. The American president has authorized the supply of antipersonnel mines to Ukraine to help it slow down the Russian advance, American Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Wednesday, November 20. Three days earlier, Joe Biden had authorized kyiv to strike Russia in depth with long-range American missiles, the ATACMS.
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Washington justifies its decision on antipersonnel mines by a change in tactics on the part of the Russians. According to Mr. Austin, “their mechanized forces are no longer in the lead. They advance on foot in order to approach and carry out actions to open the way for the mechanized forces.. Ukraine therefore “need ways that can help slow down this effort”he explained.
Neither the United States nor Russia are signatories to the Convention on the Ban of Antipersonnel Mines, adopted in 1997 and signed by 164 states, but Ukraine is. This international disarmament treaty, also called the Ottawa Convention, prohibits the acquisition, production, stockpiling and use of antipersonnel mines.
Civilians, first victims
Joe Biden's decision arouses indignation among international organizations specializing in the fight against antipersonnel mines. Asked by The WorldHandicap International denounces a measure « terrible » whose humanitarian impact will be “catastrophic”. In fact, 84% of victims of antipersonnel mines in the world are civilians, 35% of whom are children, says the Landmine Monitor in its latest report, published Wednesday, a few hours before the American decision was made public.
“Ukrainian civilians will be the first victims of these weapons, with very long-term consequences, warns Elliot de Faramond, spokesperson for Handicap International. Furthermore, mines kill without distinction between civilians and soldiers, which contravenes international humanitarian law. » If Ukraine used them, it would constitute a « violation flagrante » of the Ottawa Convention.
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The American decision constitutes a “dangerous precedent”adds Elliot de Faramond, who fears a weakening of the Ottawa Treaty, while it has “proof of its effectiveness” : in 1999, antipersonnel mines caused 25,000 victims (injured or killed), compared to 5,757 in 2023, including 580 in Ukraine, according to the Landmine Monitor.
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