On July 3, the Lithuanian Government supported the Ministry of National Defense's initiative on leaving the Convention, which prohibits the use of cassette ammunition. The document will now be considered by the Lithuanian Parliament.
Lithuania President Gitanas Nauseda has also expressed support for this decision.
According to the Ministry of Defense, Lithuania considers it appropriate to withdraw from the Convention because of a radically changed national security situation. They emphasize the importance of using cassette ammunition as a highly effective means of defense.
It is also noted that Russia and Belarus intend to use cassette bombs in the event of armed conflict, which, according to Lithuania, will give them a military advantage. If Lithuania remains in the Convention, its allies will also not be able to use or transport this weapon in its territory, the Defense Minister Laurinas Kashchuasn emphasized.
Casket ammunition is considered effective for protecting large areas, although they are also considered dangerous to civilian population because of their potential to fly into dangerous explosive lobes.
At the moment, most neighboring Lithuania countries are not participants in this convention governing the use of cassette ammunition.
The Convention came into force in 2010, but recently Laurinas Kashchuasn stated the possibility of leaving Lithuania from it in the near future.
We will add that on July 2, the mayor of Vilnius presented a plan for defense of the capital, which examines the evacuation of the locals in the event of war.
