After the formal six-month period since parliamentary approval concluded on July 18, 2024, Lithuania has confirmed its withdrawal from the international convention that prohibited its Armed Forces from acquiring and using cluster munitions, making it the first signatory country to take this path. According to the Lithuanian government, the decision was made to send a clear message regarding the determination to defend the Baltic country in the event of a future attack—an action clearly directed at Russia, which has drawn strong criticism from human rights groups.
Citing statements from Lithuanian officials, specifically Deputy Defense Minister Karolis Aleksa, in support of the recent decision: “Russia uses all available tools in a conventional war, and this shows that we must act to ensure effective deterrence and defense (…) Withdrawing from the convention gives us the opportunity to increase the effectiveness of our defense against wide-area targets (…) The most effective deterrence and defense is achieved when you possess these weapons and know how to use them.”
What does the Convention on Cluster Munitions establish?
A brief review of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and its scope begins with its general objectives, as outlined in Article 1 of the document signed in 2008. Without any ambiguity, it states that all member states reject under any circumstances the use of such weaponry, as well as any purchases from other nations or development of these weapons domestically or abroad.
Under this premise, states that are part of the agreement commit to a broad set of actions aimed at eliminating cluster munitions from their inventories, with a period of up to eight years from signing the treaty to achieve complete disposal. A limited quantity of these munitions may be retained solely for training personnel in disarmament and destruction techniques. Additionally, the convention mandates that if civilians are affected by these munitions, the countries must provide comprehensive assistance for their physical, mental, and social recovery. In a less critical provision, the treaty also allows states to request assistance from other countries to achieve these goals and outlines formal mechanisms for withdrawing from the agreement.
What are the cluster munitions banned by the treaty?
Having clarified these points, it is essential to define what is meant by “cluster munitions,” as not all weapons commonly associated with this category fall under the treaty that Lithuania has withdrawn from. According to Article 2 of the document, its scope is limited to conventional munitions capable of deploying submunitions weighing less than 20 kilograms each. The treaty specifically refers to weapons launched from aerial and artillery platforms, excluding landmines with similar characteristics.
Other criteria used to differentiate prohibited cluster munitions include the type of submunitions they contain. Munitions equipped exclusively with flares, smoke bombs, or electronic countermeasure devices are not subject to the treaty. Additionally, exempted munitions must have electronic self-destruction mechanisms and sensors ensuring accuracy only against pre-designated military targets.
These considerations highlight the primary reason for their prohibition by many countries: the high degree of collateral damage caused by their use and their impact on civilians. According to the 2024 Cluster Munition Monitor report, an estimated 93% of casualties from cluster munitions have been civilians, with 47% of them being children.
Which major countries remain outside the agreement?
Despite the treaty’s noble objectives, endorsed by more than 112 member states—now 111 following Lithuania’s withdrawal—it is important to note that many of the world’s military powers have chosen not to sign it. According to the official 2023 illustrative map of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, major players such as the United States, Russia, China, and India have not joined the treaty, nor have several others. In a regional context, it is also evident that Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela have opted not to sign it.
Criticism from human rights organizations
As expected, Lithuania’s decision to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions has sparked significant criticism and concern from multiple human rights organizations, which fear a “domino effect” leading other nations to follow suit, with serious humanitarian consequences.
One of the most notable examples is Amnesty International. When the Lithuanian parliament approved the withdrawal in mid-2023, the organization’s Deputy Regional Director for Research in Europe, Dinushika Dissanayake, stated: “The Lithuanian parliament’s decision to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions is a disastrous and troubling shift. This move abandons the global consensus aimed at minimizing harm to civilians during armed conflicts and undermines decades of progress in eliminating the production, transfer, and use of inherently indiscriminate weapons (…) The Lithuanian parliament must urgently reconsider its withdrawal from the Convention on Cluster Munitions—a treaty designed to protect civilians—and instead continue its active support for the convention, as it has demonstrated since its ratification.”
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated that the decision “weakens vital protections for civilians (…) Lithuania’s withdrawal is unprecedented, as no state has ever denounced a global humanitarian treaty before.”
In response to these concerns, Deputy Defense Minister Karolis Aleksa assured that Lithuania would maintain strict usage criteria for cluster munitions, including measures to minimize collateral effects from potential battlefield deployments. He further stated that the Armed Forces would prioritize planning specific protocols for recovering any unexploded munitions, reducing the risk of accidental casualties in the future. In his own words: “Cluster munitions have immense destructive power, and special attention will be given to internal regulations on their use.”
Images used for illustrative purposes.
