The Kremlin's decision to formally exit the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty has elicited strong reactions from the United States and NATO, highlighting a growing divide and a shift in the security landscape of the continent. This withdrawal from the CFE, a pivotal agreement that has for decades served as a linchpin of post-Cold War stability in Europe, represents a significant setback in East-West relations.
The 1990 CFE treaty, established during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, aimed to establish a military balance by setting caps on key categories of conventional military equipment in Europe. Its intent was to avert sudden offensives by maintaining transparency and parity in armaments. Russia's disengagement from the treaty and the subsequent suspension by the U.S. and NATO allies have further diminished the prospects of arms control on the European continent.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has condemned Russia's move, citing it as evidence of Moscow's ongoing neglect of international arms control norms. Sullivan noted that Russia's extensive military presence in Europe necessitated a corresponding response from the U.S. in the face of the treaty's abrogation. The essence of the treaty, according to Sullivan, has been fundamentally compromised by Russia's actions, including its protracted conflict with Ukraine.
NATO's statement paralleled the U.S. stance, criticizing Russia for eroding foundational principles such as "reciprocity, transparency, compliance, verification, and host nation consent" which undergird the rules-based international order.
Russia, meanwhile, attributes its withdrawal to an environment that no longer fosters negotiation with the West. The Russian Foreign Ministry has pointed fingers at NATO expansion as the primary catalyst for the treaty's demise, asserting that the inclusion of Finland and the prospective membership of Sweden in NATO renders the treaty obsolete. The Ministry has highlighted the refusal of the United States and its allies to ratify the modernized 1999 version of the CFE as a critical factor in the treaty's unraveling.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has exacerbated tensions, marking the lowest ebb in Moscow's rapport with the West since the Cold War. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov's remarks about the frigid state of U.S.-Russia relations underscore the grave implications of the treaty's collapse.
Both the U.S. and NATO have pointed to a history of Russian non-compliance as a central issue, with NATO alleging that Russia has flouted its treaty obligations for years. The alliance further implicates Belarus in contravening the treaty's objectives through its complicity in Ukraine.
The United States, alongside NATO members, had previously halted certain aspects of the treaty's application in response to Russia's "suspension" in 2007. According to the State Department, this suspension-which Washington contends was not legally permissible under the treaty-has corroded its verifiability and diminished the trust foundational to NATO-Russia and broader European security.
