The US and NATO have postponed the implementation of the CFE.

SGGP 09/11/2023 06:29

The United States and its NATO allies will officially suspend the implementation of their obligations under the Conventional Armed Forces Control Treaty in Europe (CFE) from December 7th onwards.

No longer relevant in practice.

The decision was made after Russia withdrew from the CFE – an agreement designed to de-escalate potential conflict between Russia and the West. The White House statement clarified that the decision was made after close consultation and coordination with NATO allies. Many CFE member states that are not NATO members also supported the suspension of the CFE.

Reiterating the joint statement issued at NATO headquarters, the US and its allies stated that temporarily suspending the implementation of the CFE obligations would help “strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defensive capabilities.” Furthermore, the US and its NATO allies and partners reaffirm their commitment to the effective control of conventional weapons, considering it a key component of Euro-Atlantic security; and continue measures to enhance security and stability in Europe, mitigate risks, prevent misunderstandings, avoid conflict, and build trust.

The Norwegian government has also decided to temporarily suspend its participation in the CFE. The decisions by the US and NATO came shortly after Russia officially withdrew from the CFE, accusing the US of jeopardizing post-Cold War security by expanding the NATO alliance. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the CFE Treaty, in its original form, was no longer relevant to reality. Finland's accession to NATO, as well as Sweden's application for membership, meant the treaty was dead. According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry on November 7th, the procedure for Russia's withdrawal from the CFE was completed, and the document is no longer valid for Moscow.

Reasons from the parties

This is the latest in a series of escalating tensions between NATO and Russia since the conflict in Ukraine erupted in February 2022. The CFE was signed in 1990 and ratified two years later, to reduce tensions between the Cold War rivals by limiting military buildup on European borders.

According to observers, the conflict in Ukraine has caused the worst crisis in relations between Russia and the West since the Cold War. A statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that, at this stage, no agreement is possible with NATO countries, as the bloc's members have shown no negotiating ability.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last weekend that Russia's relations with the US are below zero. Meanwhile, according to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the conflict in Ukraine and its withdrawal from the treaty have "fundamentally altered" the circumstances surrounding it and changed the obligations of the parties involved.

Meanwhile, in his opening remarks at the meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Moscow on November 8, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev stated that the risk of using nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons is increasing due to actions by the United States.

Source