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Statement by Lithuania at the UNGA80 First Committee Cluster IV (Conventional Weapons).

Chair,

Lithuania aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and wishes to add the following remarks in its national capacity.

Chair,

Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine has ruined the European security architecture.

Besides the territorial conquest, Russia continues to wage terror against civilians, indiscriminately targeting populated areas, schools, hospitals, and critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. The scale and brutality of these attacks reveal Russia’s utter disregard for human life and international humanitarian law. Russia’s deliberate violence against civilians constitutes war crimes.

Against the backdrop of Russian war and coercion, undermining law and customs of war, Russia’s neighboring States must ensure that their defence and deterrence remain strong and credible. In this context, Lithuania has made the sovereign decision to withdraw from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. On 27 June 2025, we notified the Depositary of our decision. Earlier this year, on 6 March 2025, our withdrawal from the Convention on Cluster Munitions took effect.

These decisions stem from the difficult but necessary recognition that the regional security environment has deteriorated, and that Lithuania must preserve the means to defend itself against the threat from Russia.

Our withdrawals from the Ottawa and Oslo Conventions do not diminish Lithuania’s unwavering commitment to the international humanitarian law. We will continue to implement all our obligations, including those under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Amended Protocol II and Protocol V. Lithuania remains committed to taking all feasible precautions to protect civilians and to maintain transparency in all matters concerning conventional arms.

Chair,

Lithuania’s approach to conventional weapons is guided by the necessity to ensure national defence. We reject indiscriminate warfare. Our armed forces are trained and equipped to uphold international law – to defend, not to destroy; to protect civilian life, not to endanger it.

We continue to support the humanitarian objectives of the Ottawa and Oslo Conventions. Lithuania contributes actively to humanitarian action, including mine clearance. Together with Iceland, we co-lead the Demining Capability Coalition for Ukraine – a tangible demonstration of our international solidarity and humanitarian responsibility.

Chair,

International peace and security are being reshaped by rapid technological change. When used responsibly, emerging technologies - including artificial intelligence and autonomous weapon systems - can help States defend their people with greater precision and restraint. Yet the problem lies not in new technologies, but in the behaviour of States that exploit them irresponsibly, violate international law, and erode global stability. The challenge before us is not to restrain innovation, but to restrain those who misuse it, ensuring that all technological progress remains anchored in the rules-based international order.

Lithuania is committed to this work under the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). We look forward to concrete, balanced outcomes on LAWS within the CCW, which strengthens global security and stability.

Thank you, Chair.