In a significant shift in U.S. defense policy, the Trump administration has officially overturned a ban on the use of antipersonnel land mines that was established under President Biden. The reversal, ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is outlined in a previously unreleased memorandum dated December 2, 2025.
A Strategic Reversal for a 'Dangerous' World
The internal document, reviewed by The Washington Post, argues that the policy change is necessary to provide the American military with a "force multiplier" against adversaries. Secretary Hegseth framed the decision within the context of "one of the most dangerous security environments in its history" for the United States. The memo directs the Pentagon to review the existing land mine policy and recommend a new one within 90 days.
The interim guidance sets forth five key objectives for the new framework. Crucially, it calls for lifting all geographic restrictions on deploying land mines, which would permit their use anywhere in the world, not just on the Korean Peninsula as the previous policy allowed. It also aims to grant combatant commanders the direct authority to employ these explosives.
Humanitarian Concerns and Policy Details
This move is set to collide with long-standing humanitarian campaigns. Human rights organizations have advocated for a global ban on antipersonnel land mines for decades, citing their indiscriminate nature. These weapons often remain active long after conflicts end, killing and maiming civilians. In 2024 alone, nearly 2,000 people were killed by land mines and other explosive remnants of war, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
The Pentagon, in a statement, said Hegseth is "committed to maintaining our competitive advantages" and has directed the department to explore ways to meet warfighting needs while reducing risks to non-combatants. The new policy states that any "remotely delivered" antipersonnel mines must have self-destruction and self-deactivation features. However, weapons experts frequently warn that such "nonpersistent" mines still have significant failure rates.
Furthermore, the policy reversal halts the destruction of U.S. land mine stockpiles. It now mandates that only mines deemed "inoperable or unsafe" be destroyed, keeping the rest in inventory.
Global Context and Treaty Withdrawals
The United States is not a signatory to the 1997 Ottawa Treaty, which bans the use, stockpiling, and production of antipersonnel land mines and has been ratified by over 160 nations. The recent policy shift aligns with a trend among some nations reassessing the treaty due to contemporary security threats. Notably, Ukraine—which has used tens of thousands of mines to slow the Russian invasion—and several Eastern European nations have withdrawn or announced their intention to withdraw from the pact this year.
This decision effectively nullifies prior U.S. legislation that prohibited land mine use outside of Korea and required the destruction of stockpiles not earmarked for South Korea's defense. Interestingly, the Biden administration itself had sent antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine in 2024, an action that appeared to contradict its own stated policy against transferring such weapons.
The final form of the U.S. land mine policy will become clearer once the Pentagon's 90-day review is complete, setting the stage for renewed debate on the balance between military tactics and humanitarian law.
