Why Landmines Aren't Going Anywhere in Modern Warfare

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The first recorded use of pressure-activated landmines was by the Confederates in 1862 during the Civil War. What was then thought to be murderous and barbarous by Union soldiers became a standard military item and was ubiquitous in 20th-century warfare.

But in 1997, the Ottawa Treaty was signed; prohibiting the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. Notably, of the 163 countries that signed the original treaty, the U.S., Russia, China and North Korea were absent.

With all of the work that went into abolishing anti-personnel landmine warfare, how and why have they been repositioned to likely become a large part of modern and future warfare.

Written by: David Caplan

Edited by: Savvy

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