NATO condemns Russia’s withdrawal from Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, suspends treaty in response

Effective November 7, Russia formally withdrew from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), an action which has been condemned by NATO member states. A statement published on the NATO website said that in response, member states plan to suspend the treaty, as a situation in which they continue compliance while Russia does not would be unacceptable. “This decision is fully supported by all NATO member states,” the statement read.

Russia suspended participation in the CFE in 2007. In 2015, Russian authorities announced they would no longer attend meetings of the CFE Joint Consultative Group. Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated the country’s final withdrawal from the treaty in 2023.