On May 6, Senator Patrick Leahy and Rep. Jim McGovern sent a congressional letter with more than 100 co-signing members of Congress to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper expressing disappointment at the Trump administration’s reversal of Obama-era landmine policy and requesting answers to questions regarding future plans for development and use of antipersonnel landmines. The letter expressed “regret…

Joint Statement on the Trump Administration's New Landmine Policy

In response to the January 31st announcement by the White House of 

On 31 January 2020, the US Department of Defense announced its intent to roll-back Obama-era landmine policy, allowing for the US to use landmines anywhere in the world. The previous 2014 Obama-era policy banned US production and acquisition of antipersonnel landmines and prohibited their use outside…

Strong global mine ban norm marred by improvised mines trend and high civilian casualties raising alarm as states meet in Oslo to agree mine-free 2025 actions

Record funding for landmine clearance, but casualties remain high