The officials said new policy reflects the Biden administration’s belief that human rights should be an important consideration when considering when use weapon or give it to others countries.
“United States’ new policy on anti-personnel land mines are concentrated on people— Bonnie Jenkins, Deputy Secretary of State. for arms control and international The security service told reporters by phone.
US officials speak against personnel mines used various nation kill around 7000 people a year, overwhelming majority of which are non-combat. Least half of presumably victims children. In places like Afghanistan and Yemen, landmines remain hidden danger after conflicts, sowing farmland or mountain paths with invisible and durable danger.
Daryl Kimball, Chief director of Arms Control Association, a human rights organization group welcomed new policy but said the United States should take steps need join Ottawa Convention, a 1997 treaty that prohibits participating countries from using the transfer or stockpiling of weapons belonging to the category of anti-personnel mines.
“We are still out of step with most of in worldKimball said. “The administration should move more quickly bring us in line.”
While the United States remains has no right join Ottawa treaty because of his refusal to abandon anti-personnel mines use completely, US officials say they hope to do so if alternative weapons can be developed to protect the border of South Korea with North Korea.
new policy bring the United States to compliance with most aspects of an agreement prohibiting the production and purchase of mines and a ban on their export and transfer, except when necessary for their destruction. Rules also commit United States to destroy American mines that are not considered necessary in South Korea.
US stocks include about 3 million anti-tank weapons.personnel mines, all of which have self-destruction or self-deactivation features. The United States applied anti-personnel mines once after the 1991 Gulf War, in Afghanistan.
How Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Vowed to Curl back what he described as President Donald Trump’s “reckless” stance on mines. Officials have formulated a policy that is identical to the Obama administration. rules as additional evidence of the Biden administration’s commitment to civilian welfare and human rights. United States also biggest supporter of efforts to destroy conventional weapons, including landmines and other unexploded ordnance.
Critics say the Biden administration’s actions failed to match his rhetoric in other areas related to human rights, including support for leaders who observed widespread abuse. new policy goes ahead of Expected Biden meeting with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman.
Senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) called on the Department of Defense, where senior officials voiced support for landmine use to quickly implement new policy.
“This is a long overdue recognition that the serious humanitarian and political costs of using these weapons far exceed their limited military utility”, Leahy, who has long advocated for end of landmine usesaid in statement.
Annie Shiel, official in the center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), said the task ahead now full ban on weapons without exception.
“Landmines are weapons of indiscriminate action, cause devastating damage to the civilian population for decades after they were used,” Sheel said.
new rules strip the pentagon of authority over in issue, handing over control to the White House.
When the 2020 regulations were made public, the Pentagon described the mines as valuable in protection of troops from being captured or diverted enemy troops to areas where they can be attacked. What policy permitted military commanders give orders use of some land mines in combat if only they had self-destruction or self-deactivation feature.
“The United States will not sacrifice American military personnel.” safety senior Pentagon official said at the time.
military leaders also supported use of minutes since Biden took office. In April, Gen. Mark A. Milley, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff of The headquarters described mines as an important wartime tool.
“Anti-tank or anti-personnel mines are very effective use in combathe said, noting the need of make sure the weapon is not remain active after conflicts.
State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe policy forthcoming of his publication, said Millie and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during review process “had the opportunity to raise need what they feel, what they have for mines with White House and talk about their operational effectiveness, but it was decision”.
The Biden administration highlighted the toll that landmines take in war in Ukraine, where officials say Russia has planted mines indiscriminately. While there is no Russia party Ukraine has signed the Ottawa Convention.
Karen Chandler, Acting Deputy Assistant secretary of stated that “there is no credible evidence of Ukraine using [anti-personnel mines], currently or during the initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014”.
