The Intelligence from The Economist A friend of mines: America’s explosive policy turn
Feb 18, 2020
Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor for The Economist, discusses the troubling shift in U.S. policy on anti-personnel landmines and its implications for modern warfare. He highlights the tension between military effectiveness and civilian safety amid evolving international regulations. The conversation also touches on how British universities are reckoning with their historical ties to the slave trade and the innovative advancements in sports advertising, including the use of virtual technology to tailor messages to viewers.
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Last Large-Scale Use
- In 1991, America used anti-personnel landmines during the Gulf War.
- This was the last significant American use of these weapons before a recent policy shift.
The Ottawa Treaty
- The Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty of 1997, championed by Princess Diana, banned anti-personnel landmines.
- However, several countries, including the US, initially didn't sign.
Policy Reversal
- Obama limited landmine use to the Korean Peninsula, effectively phasing them out elsewhere by 2030.
- Trump reversed this policy, claiming landmines are a "vital tool."