CMV: Entire Europe should leave Convention on Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

These two international treaties were nice while they lasted, but there is a serious risk of conflict and Europe is voluntarily giving up two key ingredients to its successful defence. We saw in Ukraine that both of these weapons are very effective in stopping assaults of the Russian army. It is high time for Europe to stockpile them in order to use them in Ukraine/Baltics/Poland or whatever the next battlefield may be.

Russia never agreed to either of those treaties and there is absolutely no reason for Europe to tie its hands when the opponent happily uses such weapons. The best moment to manufacture a large amount of landmines and cluster shells was yesterday, but the second best moment is now.

The main problem with these weapons is that they stay in the nature for a long time and harm civilians for years after. Europe is rich enough to pay for really good cleaning of the exposed areas though. And if static frontlines evolve like in Ukraine, they get full of unexploded ordnance anyway. Some additional mines and cluster shells will not make a big difference.

Change my view!