News & Events in Belarus

Lukashenko authorizes bringing in bill on suspending Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty

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MINSK, 5 April (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has approved bringing in a bill on suspending the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty into the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA.

The Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty was ratified by Belarus and entered into force in 1992. It limits the total numbers of conventional weapons and materiel in five main categories (combat tanks, armored fighting vehicles, artillery, strike helicopters, and combat aircraft). It also stipulates mechanisms for verifying the observance of these commitments (information exchange and the organization of inspections).

The bill provides for suspending the effect of the CFE Treaty but does not mean Belarus will withdraw from the treaty. In line with the bill the army will stop carrying out the internal procedures the fulfillment of the treaty requires.

Belarus fully honors its commitments as part of the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, including by rigorously maintaining the specified maximum numbers of weapons, military hardware, and personnel of the Armed Forces.

Nevertheless, Czechia decided to suspend its obligations to Belarus as part of the treaty in August 2022. Poland did the same in March 2023.

In November 2023 NATO’s North Atlantic Council declared the intention of the NATO member states, which are parties to the treaty, to suspend the treaty’s effect. The Russian Federation has also withdrawn from the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty.

The suspension of the treaty by the NATO member states and their allies essentially means the treaty will stop functioning.

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