Medvedev: Treaty on conventional arms in Europe lost relevance in 2007

The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) lost its relevance back in 2007, declared Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev.

“This document [ДОВСЕ] lost relevance for us back in 2007. But now, even in the line of previously suspended international obligations, nothing prevents us from placing our weapons where we want to protect national interests,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.

The deputy chairman of the Security Council noted that it is planned to “maximum increase the production of weapons, military and special equipment and weapons.”

Former State Duma deputies supported denunciation of the CFE Treaty by Russia. The press service of the State Duma clarified that the bill was adopted unanimously, and along with the termination of the treaty, a number of international agreements related to it are also terminated.

Russia suspended its participation in the CFE Treaty as early as 2007. On May 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a bill to denounce the treaty to the State Duma. On the same day, the head of state appointed Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Ryabkov as his representative during the consideration in parliament of the withdrawal of the Russian Federation from this treaty. Earlier today, Ryabkov announced the impossibility of returning to the CFE Treaty before the end of the “stormy period” in relations between Russia and the United States.

The Treaty refers to the limitation of five categories of weapons and equipment: tanks, armored combat vehicles, artillery with a caliber of more than 100 mm, combat aircraft and attack helicopters. The document provides for the exchange of information and extensive inspection activities in the participating countries.

The agreement itself was signed by European countries and the USSR in 1990. After the collapse of the Warsaw Pact Organization (WTO) in 1991, the question arose of adapting the CFE Treaty in accordance with the new realities, especially relevant after NATO’s expansion to the east. By the end of the 1990s, a version of the so-called adapted CFE Treaty was prepared, which raised the ceilings on the “flank restrictions” of conventional weapons for Russia.