NATO Condemns CFE Withdrawal; Move Unlikely To Change Security Outlook

NATO has released a statement condemning the Russian withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE). In response, NATO allies have suspended their own participation in the treaty "for as long as necessary", but "reiterate their continued commitment to reduce military risk, and prevent misperceptions and conflicts."

• The CFE came into force in 1990 and placed monitored limits on the types of conventional military equipment that could be deployed, seeking to avoid an arms build-up and any swift military action by NATO against Russia or vice versa.
• NATO: "Russia's withdrawal is the latest in a series of actions that systematically undermines Euro-Atlantic security. Russia continues to demonstrate disregard for arms control, including key principles of reciprocity, transparency, compliance, verification, and host nation consent, and undermines the rules based international order."
• Russia suspended its participation in CFE in 2007, halted active participation in 2015, and formally withdrew at midnight. Following the Russian suspension, the US and NATO ceased applying the treaty in relation to Russia in 2011 according to the US State Dep't.
• Given that neither Russia nor NATO members have been applying the CFE to one another since 2011 at the latest, the impact of Russia's withdrawal and NATO's suspension is unlikely to materially change Europe's security outlook in the short term.