Turkey suspends its participation in Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe

7 April, 2024 Military of the Turkey. Photo from open sources Turkey follows other NATO Allies in suspending their participation in the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE).

Bloomberg reports on it. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the corresponding decree. According to the decree, starting from April 8, 2024, Turkey will suspend its obligations under the arms treaty, which imposed restrictions on conventional military equipment in Europe.

The CFE treaty was concluded during the Cold War when the confrontation between the countries of the West and the USSR was ongoing.

Flag of Turkey

The decision puts Turkey on a par with similar moves by the United States, UK, Germany, and other NATO member states in response to Russia's withdrawal from the Treaty last November. At the time, the United States stated that its decision would strengthen the Alliance's deterrence and defense capabilities by lifting restrictions that affect military planning. Last fall, NATO countries decided to suspend their participation in the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.

This decision was made after Russia announced its final withdrawal from this treaty.

Illustration on the topic: NATO

The Alliance's statement then emphasized that Russia's withdrawal from the CFE Treaty is "the latest in a series of actions that systematically undermine Euro-Atlantic security." They also noted that Russia continues to show disregard for arms control and undermines the rules based on the international order. On November 7, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation reported that Russia finally left the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE).

It is worth noting that Russia's participation in the treaty was suspended in July 2007 by a decree of the president of the aggressor country, and on November 29, 2007, a corresponding law was passed there.