BRUSSELS. Nov 7 (Interfax) - The North Atlantic Council announced on Tuesday that the NATO member states are suspending the operation of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE Treaty) in response to Russia's decision to withdraw from it.
"While recognizing the role of the CFE as a cornerstone of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture, a situation whereby allied states parties abide by the Treaty, while Russia does not, would be unsustainable. Therefore, as a consequence, allied states parties intend to suspend the operation of the CFE Treaty for as long as necessary, in accordance with their rights under international law. This is a decision fully supported by all NATO allies," the statement published on the NATO headquarters website says.
The North Atlantic Council condemns Russia's decision to withdraw from the CFE Treaty and sees it as "the latest in a series of actions that systematically undermines Euro-Atlantic security," it said.
Allies "reiterate their continued commitment to reduce military risk, and prevent misperceptions and conflicts" and invite countries sharing this commitment and principles to join the Alliance "to also contribute to increasing predictability and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area," it said.
"Allies remain united in their commitment to effective conventional arms control as a key element of Euro-Atlantic security, taking into account the prevailing security environment and the security of all allies. This complements the alliance's deterrence and defense posture that allies have decided to further strengthen," it said.
The United Kingdom Foreign Office also published a statement criticizing Russia's withdrawal from the CFE Treaty and announced its decision to suspend its operation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that the formal procedure of Russia's withdrawal from the CFE Treaty was completed at midnight on November 7.
"The procedure envisaged in the CFE Treaty for Russia's withdrawal from this treaty was completed at midnight on November 7, 2023. Thus, the international legal document, the validity of which our country suspended back in 2007, has become history for us," the ministry said in a statement on its website.
Two more legally binding agreements inseparably linked to the CFE Treaty, i.e. the Budapest Agreement of November 3, 1990, which set the maximum levels of conventional weapons and equipment for the six Warsaw Pact countries, and the Flank Agreement of May 31, 1996, simultaneously ceased to be valid for Russia," it said.