Russia continues to up the ante in its relations with the West. Last week, Moscow announced that it will suspend its obligations under a key arms control treaty in Europe. The move underscores rising tensions with the United States and is another attempt to drive a wedge into the Atlantic Alliance.
The Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) was signed by Russia and NATO in 1990; it puts limits on the number of weapons systems — aircraft, heavy artillery and tanks — countries can deploy in Eastern Europe. The treaty was amended after the Soviet Union broke up; the changes obliged Russia to remove military forces from Georgia and Moldova, two former Soviet republics.
Russia ratified the treaty. NATO did not, claiming that it cannot until Moscow removes troops from those states. Moscow counters that the U.S. has established bases in Eastern European countries in violation of the treaty — NATO claims they are training facilities — among other things. Curiously, Moscow's expressed displeasure over U.S. plans to deploy missile defenses in Eastern and Central Europe is not among its grievances in this case.