Latvia's parliament agrees to exit landmines treaty amid potential Russia threat

FILE PHOTO: Latvian Defence Minister Inara Murniece speaks on the day of signing of a framework contract with German arms maker Diehl Defence for the purchase of their air defence system IRIS-T SLM in Roethenbach near Nuremberg, Germany, September 11, 2023. REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File Photo

HELSINKI (Reuters) - The Latvian parliament on Wednesday voted in favour of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention international treaty that bans the use of anti-personnel landmines amid concerns over the military threat posed by neighbouring Russia.

"The withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention will give our armed forces room for manoeuvre in the event of a military threat to use all possible means to defend our citizens," parliament foreign affairs committee chair Inara Murniece said in the statement.