US and NATO react to Russian suspension of its CFE treaty
Russia introduced moratorium on the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) in response to the refusal of NATO countries to ratify the document.
A NATO release says “We note that the Russian Federation’s “suspension” is a unilateral measure not provided for under the terms of the CFE Treaty. This step does not contribute to the long-term viability of the CFE Treaty and we urge the Russian Federation to rescind its decision. We also note the Russian Federation’s stated commitment to the CFE regime and its statement that it does not presently intend to withdraw from the Treaty. NATO Allies will carefully monitor the Russian Federation’s compliance with its Treaty obligations.”
Sean McCormack, spokesman, U.S. State Department said, “The CFE Treaty has demonstrated its importance through unprecedented reductions in levels of military hardware in Europe and a transformation of the political context of our security dialogue from suspicion to mutual confidence.”
The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) which entered into force in July 1992, tried to equalizing holdings of Treaty limited combat equipment (TLE) in Europe between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The treaty currently covers 30 countries in the region.
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