Guide Note

July 14, 2007: Vladimir Putin notified NATO that Russia will suspend its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE).

Fast Facts

Response to U.S. plan to deploy a missile defense system in Eastern Europe
CFE: a key cold war-era arms agreement
Set equal limits on vehicles, aircraft and artillery that NATO and the former Warsaw Pact could deploy between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ural Mountains
Prevented concentration of forces that could be used in an offensive
The CFE used a system of concentric zones mandating smaller deployments of tanks, artillery and aircraft the closer one moves to the center of Europe
Provided great transparency on military holdings

Russian Rebuttal

While the missile defense system was a factor in Russia's decision to suspend its involvement in the CFE, Russia has cited that a change of NATOs composition was also a key. Since the initial signing of the CFE, NATO has expanded to include several former Soviet states. The NATO expansion has disrupted the strategic balance to the point were the Russia no longer considers the CFE to serve its national interests.

Related Pages on Mahalo

Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty | Vladimir Putin | NATO | Missile Defense System | US Missile Shield Poland

Categories

News | Political Issues and Controversies | International Relations | Diplomacy | Russia

View Note History

Russian Withdrawal From CFE Treaty

The Mahalo Top 7

MSNBC: Russia set to scrap arms pact (November 8, 2007)
International Herald Tribune: U.S. and Russia seek to rescue arms treaty
BBC News: Russia suspends arms treaty (November 8, 2007)
New York Times: Russia Suspends Arms Agreement Over U.S. Shield (July 15, 2007)
BBC News: Russia suspends arms control pact (July 14, 2007)
Defence Talk: Europe Torn Between ABM And CFE (May 8, 2007)
Arms Control Association: CFE Treaty at a Glance

Russian Withdrawal From CFE Treaty News

Google News: Russia CFE Treaty
Kommersant: U.S. Concerned About Russia’s Moratorium on CFE Treaty (November 8, 2007)
MSNBC: Russia set to scrap arms pact (November 8, 2007)
International Herald Tribune: U.S. and Russia seek to rescue arms treaty
BBC News: Russia suspends arms treaty (November 8, 2007)
RIA Novosti: Russia no longer to be bound by CFE limitations (November 8, 2007)
Moscow Times: NATO Calls for Talks on CFE Treaty (July 17, 2007)
The Independent: Suspension of CFE Treaty...'step in the wrong direction (July 17, 2007)
Fox News: NATO Chief Urges Calm Talks With Russia (June 26, 2007)
RIA Novosti: Russia may withdraw from agreement with NATO (April 27, 2007)
Bloomberg: Putin Defends His Democracy; Warns on Arms Treaty (April 26, 2007)

Russian Withdrawal From CFE Treaty Background

The NATO-Russia Archive: Russia and the CFE Treaty
Arms Control Association: NATO and Russian Approaches To Adapting the CFE Treaty (1997)

The CFE Treaty

Wikipedia: Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
Arms Control Association: CFE Treaty at a Glance
State.gov: CFE Treaty (full text)
State.gov: Fact Sheet: CFE Treaty

U.S. Missile Defence

Mahaolo's page on Missile Defense System
BBC News: Q&A: US missile defence

Russian Withdrawal From CFE Treaty Commentary and Criticism

Guardian Unlimited: No defence against missiles
BBC News: Russia sends warning to the West and Viewpoint: Russia's missile fears

Russian Withdrawal From CFE Treaty Message Boards and Blogs

Google Blog Search: Russia CFE Treaty
Spacewar.com: US Sees No Link Between CFE Suspension And Missile Shield

Russian Withdrawal From CFE Treaty Central Figures

Vladimir Putin
- Guardian Unlimited: Putin threatens to scrap weapons treaty and Putin raises stakes...
NATO
- Wikipedia: CFE Treaty