Russia has blamed U.S. for undermining post-Cold War security with the enlargement of the NATO military alliance
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Members have condemned Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, a key post-Cold War agreement.
Russia said it would suspend its operation, blaming the United States (U.S.) for undermining post-Cold War security with the enlargement of the NATO military alliance. NATO has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is contrary to the Treaty’s objectives. NATO said that Russia has not respected the terms of the treaty for many years, pointing to suspending participation in 2007 and halting active participation in 2015.
NATO said that Russia systematically undermines Euro-Atlantic security. Russia continues to demonstrate a disregard for arms control, including key principles of reciprocity, transparency, compliance, verification, and host nation consent and undermines the rules-based international order.
The move comes less than a week after the President of Russia – Vladimir Putin, revoked his country’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which outlaws all nuclear weapon tests, and test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads from one of its submarines.
The original CFE was negotiated and concluded during the last years of the Cold War and established comprehensive limits on key categories of conventional military equipment in Europe and mandated the destruction of excess weaponry. It proposed equal limits for the two “groups of states-parties”, the NATO and the Warsaw Pact. It was unpopular in Moscow as it blunted the Soviet Union’s advantage in conventional weapons.
A Statement from NATO read, “Allies condemn Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), and its war of aggression against Ukraine which is contrary to the Treaty’s objectives.”
It further read, “Therefore, as a consequence, Allied States Parties intend to suspend the operation of the CFE Treaty for as long as necessary, in accordance with their rights under international law. This is a decision fully supported by all NATO Allies.”
Subsequently, the U.S. said it would suspend treaty obligations effective December 7, 2023. The White House National Security Advisor – Jake Sullivan, said that Russia’s war against Ukraine and its withdrawal from the treaty “fundamentally altered” circumstances related to it and transformed participants’ obligations. Russia suspended participation in the treaty in 2007 and halted active participation in 2015. Sullivan said that despite Moscow’s continued disregard for arms control, the United States and its allies will remain committed to effective conventional arms control.
Russia’s Ambassador to the U.S. – Anatoly Antonov, said that shifting responsibility for the destruction of international security architecture is a “favourite practice” of Washington.
