Is it time for the UK to rethink its policy on the use of anti-personnel landmines?

With the war in Ukraine changing the European security landscape, there are calls for the UK to change its policy that limits the use of landmines by the armed forces.

The Ottawa Treaty aimed to eliminate anti-personnel landmines (APLs) and ban the stockpiling and transfer of them between governments.

But there are calls for the UK to pull out of the treaty, with former Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace backing calls by think tank Policy Exchange to abandon the agreement.

• Ex-Defence Secretary backs report urging UK to withdraw from anti-landmine treaty
• Four European nations to quit landmine treaty over fears of threat from Russia
• Could mine detecting drones change the face of land warfare?

He said it limits the ability for the UK to support Ukraine as it continues to fight against Russian aggression.

Russia itself uses the munitions to shore up their defences in the frontline on the battlefield, an option not open to UK forces under the current policy.

A number of nations on Nato's eastern flank have also planned to withdraw from the treaty.

Poland and the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have all pulled out of the agreement. 

The USA and Russia are not restricted in the same way, having never signed up to the treaty.