[MarkSheppard]

Originally Posted by MarkSheppard

Lithuania is starting the groundwork to withdraw from the cluster munition pact.

A draft resolution was put forth by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense; if it's ratified by the President and Parliament, Lithuania will withdraw from the Convention and the country will no longer be prohibited to procure, stockpile and use cluster munitions.

https://www.delfi.lt/ru/news/politic...asov-120037152

Google translated

Lithuania withdraws from convention banning cluster munitions

On Thursday, the Seimas decided to denounce the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans their use. After Lithuania's withdrawal from this international agreement, there are no longer any restrictions on the purchase, stockpiling, and, in the event of war, use of cluster munitions. The withdrawal from the convention was supported by 103 members of the Seimas, one deputy voted against, and four abstained.

One of the initiators of the issue, Minister of Defence Laurynas Kaščiūnas , claims that the change in the geopolitical situation prompted the withdrawal from the convention.

"Such conventions are significant when all countries adhere to them. In this case, the problem is that the Russian Federation, which is carrying out aggression against Ukraine and has imperialist ambitions, does not follow these rules," L. Kaščiūnas said at a session of the Seimas. "When we ratified this convention and joined it, it was a different era. Now everything is much more complicated. Therefore, it would be very wrong if the state, preparing for its defense, immediately said what capacities it will not use for its defense," the Minister of Defense noted.

L. Kaščiūnas also assured that modern cluster munitions are much safer, and the consequences they cause can be controlled. Discussions about Lithuania's withdrawal from the Oslo Convention banning the use of cluster munitions began last summer, when then-Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas expressed such an expectation. The Defense Ministry called for a reassessment of the provisions of this international document for reasons of national security. Lithuania ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2010.