US and NATO postpone CFE implementation

SGGP November 9, 2023 06:29

The US and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies officially suspended the implementation of obligations under the Conventional Forces Control in Europe (CFE) Treaty from December 7.

No longer relevant to reality

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

Reiterating the joint statement issued at NATO headquarters, the US and its allies said that the suspension of the CFE obligations would help “strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities”. On the other hand, the US, NATO allies and partners continue to affirm their commitment to effective control of conventional weapons, considering it a key part of Euro-Atlantic security; continue measures to enhance security and stability in Europe, reduce risks, prevent misunderstandings, avoid conflicts and build trust.

The Norwegian government has also decided to temporarily suspend its participation in the CFE. The decision by the US and NATO came shortly after Russia officially withdrew from the CFE, accusing the US of endangering post-Cold War security by expanding the NATO alliance. The Russian Foreign Ministry said 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 to join meant the treaty was dead. According to the announcement of the Russian Foreign Ministry on November 7, the procedure for withdrawing Russia from the CFE has been completed and this document is no longer valid for Moscow.

Reasons of the parties

This is the latest in a series of rising 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 build-ups on Europe's borders.

According to observers, the conflict in Ukraine has caused the worst crisis in relations between Russia and the West since the Cold War. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that at this stage, there can be no agreement with NATO countries, because the countries in the bloc have shown that they are incapable of negotiating.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last weekend that Russia's relations with the US were at a level below zero. According to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, the conflict in Ukraine and the country's withdrawal from the treaty has "fundamentally changed" the circumstances surrounding it and altered the obligations of the parties involved.

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

Source