NATO announces intention to suspend operation of CFE Treaty
The United Kingdom issued a separate statement saying it will suspend its participation in the CFE, while a US State Department official told The media that inaction by the NATO allies would send the wrong signal
The NATO allies plan to withdraw from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) after Russia finalized its withdrawal last night at midnight (9:00 p.m. November 6 GMT ), the bloc said in a statement.
“[The] allies condemn Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) <…>. Therefore, as a consequence, [the] Allied States Parties intend to suspend the operation of the CFE Treaty for as long as necessary, in accordance with their rights under international law. This is a decision fully supported by all NATO Allies,” the North Atlantic Alliance said. The bloc also reiterated its continued commitment “to reduce military risk, and prevent misperceptions and conflicts.”
The United Kingdom issued a separate statement saying it will suspend its participation in the CFE, while a US State Department official told The Wall Street Journal that inaction by the NATO allies in the wake of Russia’s withdrawal would send the wrong signal.
At 0:00 a.m. on November 7, 2023 [9:00 p.m. November 6 GMT], Russia finalized its withdrawal from the CFE Treaty, as it said it would “leave the door open to dialogue on reviving control over conventional weapons in Europe.”
The CFE Treaty was signed in 1990 and amended in 1997. However, the NATO countries never ratified the amended version of the document and have continued to adhere to the outdated 1990 provisions, based on the conventional arms balance between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. As a result, Russia was compelled to declare a moratorium on implementing the terms of the treaty in 2007.
On May 29, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law denouncing the Treaty that came into force on June 9. Moscow has repeatedly warned that the blame for suspending it will fall upon the United States and its allies who have taken the path to confrontation.
However despite the suspension of its participation in the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), Germany will stay committed to the national arms quotas under this treaty, the German Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
According to the ministry, Germany may return to the treaty if Russia changes its position.
“The German government, as well as its NATO allies, remain committed to European security. This also includes one of the CFE Treaty’s central principles, namely effective controls over conventional arms in Europe,” the ministry said. “That is why Germany is ready to continue implementing certain measures envisaged by the treaty, such as the exchange of data with European countries concerned. Apart from that, the German government will continue to observe the national quotas concerning combat systems covered by the CFE Treaty.”
“Today, the German government, in close coordination with NATO allies, made a decision to suspend the CFE Treaty. This means that neither Germany nor its allies are withdrawing from the CFE Treaty,” it stressed. “In case Russia’s position changes cardinally, the implementation of the CFE Treaty may be resumed.”
Russia’s withdrawal from the CFE Treaty “destroys one more pillar of the European architecture of security and arms control. Which was geared to limit conventional weapons in Europe,” the ministry stressed. “Following Russia’s withdrawal, further implementation of the CFE Treaty loses most of its benefits in the area of the policy of security and arms control because the key goal of the CFE Treaty – ensuring the balance of conventional forces potential in Europe – cannot be reached without Russia.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that the procedure of Russia’s withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe was completed overnight to November 7 and Moscow deems this document terminated.
