Russia Suspends Participation in Weapons Treaty

Russia formally halted compliance today with the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, but officials said Moscow remains open to reconsidering its move, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Nov. 16).

While Russia has not hinted at any imminent redeployment of its military forces, it has stopped providing mandatory treaty disclosures and would block inspectors from reviewing the nation’s compliance with the pact, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Russia “is prepared for continuing a results-oriented dialogue on the CFE during its suspension," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.  “We hope that such dialogue will bring about the desired results if the other signatories to the treaty display political realism and look for mutually acceptable solutions.”

The treaty limits deployment of tanks, attack helicopters, combat aircraft and other heavy military equipment in Europe.  Participating nations signed the original version of the treaty in 1990 and Russia ratified updates to the agreement in 2004.  The United States and other NATO powers have said they would not agree to the updated treaty until Russia complied with commitments to remove its forces from Georgia and the rebel province of Trans-Dniester in Moldova (Associated Press/Google News, Dec. 12).

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