NATO allies are increasingly questioning the value of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty as Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine and to destabilize regional security. Known as the cornerstone of European security, the treaty, together with the Vienna Document and the Open Skies Treaty, constituted a web of interlocking and mutually reinforcing arms control obligations and commitments administered by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Some current NATO members, such as Bulgaria, Romania and Poland, would still be considered part of the Warsaw Pact group for the purposes of the treaty, but signed the CFE Treaty as sovereign states, Dr Alexander Graef explained to Arms Control Today. The ceilings of the treaty are still far above the currently available equipment numbers, he said, despite the changing security situation in the region.
Arms Control Today is the monthly flagship publication of the Arms Control Association. You can read the full article here.