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In response to Russia, the NATO and United States have announced the suspension of their participation in the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.
Washington, the United States and allies from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) issued notices on Tuesday, November 7, officially announcing the suspension of their participation in the treaty signed in 1990 that restricts the deployment of conventional armed forces in Europe. This marks another milestone in the dissolution of a landmark arms control agreement from the Cold War era.
Prior to NATO's announcement, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had released a statement stating that Russia had completed all procedures for withdrawing from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe as of midnight on November 7, 2023. Western countries have consistently complained that Russia has not adhered to the terms specified in the treaty.
"Russia's withdrawal is the latest instance of its systematic undermining of the European-Atlantic security framework," stated the North Atlantic Council, NATO's political decision-making body, in a declaration on Tuesday.
NATO and the Warsaw Pact Organization initially signed the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe in 1990, establishing clear regulations on various aspects, including the total quantity of conventional weapons for the two major military blocs and verification procedures. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Summit adopted the Agreement on Adaptation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe in 1999. Russia ratified this agreement in 2004, but NATO member countries had not completed the ratification process.
According to reports by The Wall Street Journal on NATO's decision to suspend participation in the treaty, this move will provide the U.S. with greater flexibility in deploying forces on both the northern and southern flanks of NATO, including the deployment of troops in Romania and Bulgaria near Ukraine. Simultaneously, Western allies of Ukraine will no longer be required to share relevant information when deploying forces near Russia.
"Russia's withdrawal from this treaty is challenging and our alliance must respond firmly to it," cited a senior U.S. State Department official as per The Wall Street Journal. "Doing nothing sends the wrong message."
The official stated that the U.S. suspension of participation in the treaty will take effect on December 7.
The Wall Street Journal notes that with the U.S. and NATO suspending participation in this treaty, another landmark treaty instrumental in ending the Cold War may face its demise.
The CFE Treaty was initially seen as a foundation of European security. It's primary purpose was to prevent either NATO or the Warsaw Pact from amassing large forces in Central Europe for a sudden attack on the other. At the time of its signing, the agreement was considered an effective measure to address the overwhelming numerical advantage held by the Warsaw Pact in conventional armed forces.
The treaty imposed equal restrictions on the number of tanks, armored personnel carriers, heavy artillery, combat aircraft, and attack helicopters deployed by both military blocs between the Atlantic and the Ural Mountains. This resulted in the destruction or removal of thousands of weapons and equipment.
The CFE Treaty, along with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed by the Soviet Union and USA in 1987, is regarded as one of the most critical pillars leading to the end of the Cold War. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty prohibited the U.S. and the Soviet Union from deploying land-based ballistic missiles with ranges between 300 and 3400 miles.
The Wall Street Journal suggests that after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, Russia, inheriting the Soviet legacy, became increasingly assertive in its dealings with neighboring countries. Additionally, Russia had previously violated restrictions on the number of armored personnel carriers deployed in the European flanks.
Simultaneously, Moscow has been complaining and criticizing NATO's continued eastward expansion. Russia announced a suspension of compliance with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe in 2007. With no need to share or report the movements of its forces to NATO based on the treaty, Moscow maintained the element of surprise in actions such as the invasion of Georgia in 2008, the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and armed intervention in eastern Ukraine.
On May 29 of this year, Russian President Putin signed a decree terminating the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and officially notified NATO six months in advance.
At that time, NATO member countries had differing opinions on how to respond to Russia's actions. Some countries believed that an immediate withdrawal from the treaty was necessary, while others argued for a suspension of participation.
According to Wall Street Journal, the current decision was made by the faction advocating for a suspension ultimately prevailed.
However, some arms control experts argue that even with Russia's withdrawal from the treaty, it still holds significance without Russia's participation. Participating countries in the treaty share information and maintain transparency on troop and conventional weapons deployment, which can still play a role during times of geopolitical tensions.