Belarus withdraws from Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced on April 5 that his country would suspend its participation in the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), which had been a key security doctrine on the continent.

President Lukashenko has introduced a bill calling for parliament to suspend its activities.

“The suspension of Belarus' participation in the CFE Treaty affects the balance of power and security throughout the Euro-Atlantic region, and sends a signal to Western countries that Minsk intends to become an active military player in the region,” said Belarusian military analyst Alexander.

The CFE Treaty was signed between 16 member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and six members of the Warsaw Pact in 1990 to reduce tensions between the two blocs.

The CFE sets limits on the deployment of conventional armed forces on the European continent and establishes mechanisms for checks.

In 1999, an agreement was signed to amend the CFE, setting limits for specific countries and territories, not blocs. However, NATO member states have not ratified this update to the CFE treaty.

After failing to agree on the terms of the CFE, Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2007. By 2023, Russia had withdrawn completely from the treaty, and NATO countries responded by suspending their participation.