Упрощенная HTML-версия
Author : Yu. Belobrov
Senior Research Associate, Institute of Contemporary International Studies, Diplomatic Academy, Min-
istry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Science (Political Science)
THE REGIME for conventional arms control in Europe, estab-
lished in the 1990s after the end of the Cold War, was for those
years a unique set of measures and was seen as a model suitable for
other parts of the world as well. However, destructive activities by
NATO member countries over the past two decades have eroded
it and threaten to ruin it completely if these activities are not
stopped. The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
(CFE), which was considered the cornerstone of this regime, is
practically dead.
With CFE being dysfunctional, the Treaty on Open Skies, signed
in 1992, is the only legally binding mechanism for the control of
military activities in the Euro-Atlantic region that still works, although its application has revealed
objective imbalances and difficulties that raise questions about its future.
NATO's recent adoption of a policy of open confrontation with Russia has undermined confi-
dence between Russia and the West and seriously weakened other agreements that are compo-
nents of the conventional arms control framework, including the Vienna Document, a 2011
accord on confidence-and security-building measures.
Most analysts believe that the NATO countries are unlikely to abandon their confrontational
policies and that substantive negotiations on conventional arms control will not start any time
soon.
Washington's position is supported by the majority of NATO member countries, with the
warmest support coming from Poland and the Baltic states, which fear that the very fact of arms
limitation talks being in place would result in a weaker public support in the West for NATO
decisions to step up anti-Russian military preparations.
Differences in the positions of the United States and the majority of European countries on
various aspects of arms control still leave Russia a chance to seek compromises on this highly
important set of European security issues.
In conclusion, it would be appropriate to cite the Russian Foreign Ministry's point that "only a
radical transformation in the nature of the alliance that is hopelessly stuck in the past can pave
the way to positive change in European security.”
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European Hopes: The Conventional Arms Control Regime Can Be
Revitalized