Political commentator Andrei Perla was on air at Tsargrad.tv, discussing Russia and NATO’s withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, or CFE. The analyst emphasized that the treaty governs artillery, tanks, and other conventional weaponry, not the nuclear arsenal, highlighting a clear distinction between strategic and conventional arms in the current discourse.
He cautioned that in the near term there may be little immediate movement because NATO countries are unlikely to boost production of the specified conventional weapons in the coming years. The expert suggested that the current moment marks the threshold of a broader arms race that could unfold in 2027 and the years beyond, a trend that would demand close attention from policymakers and defense readers alike.
As of the midnight mark on November 7, 2023, Russia completed the withdrawal process from the CFE Agreement. A military observer for Newspapers.Ru, Mikhail Khodarenok, analyzed what kind of agreement this was and why it proved disadvantageous for Moscow in the evolving security climate, pointing to the practical implications and strategic calculations behind the move.
On the same day, information surfaced on the NATO website indicating that the alliance suspended its participation in the CFE Agreement after Russia took the step to withdraw, signaling a significant shift in the framework that had long governed conventional arms oversight among the members and neighboring states.
Earlier in the year, discussions emerged in the United States about reforming the United Nations Security Council, a topic that intersects with broader questions about collective security, international institutions, and the evolving balance of power in the Euro-Atlantic area. Analysts note that changes of this kind could influence how alliances, including NATO, calibrate their posture in relation to Russia and other major actors on the world stage. In this context, strategic observers stress the importance of clear communication, verified data on force levels, and transparent risk assessment when assessing any future arms control regime and potential avenues for renewed dialogue. The evolving status of conventional arms treaties remains a central piece of the wider conversation about security architecture and regional stability in North America and Europe. [Citation: Khodarenok, Newspapers.Ru; NATO statement; subsequent analyses by regional defense analysts]