Next Steps: Updating the CFE (Conventional Armed Force) Treaty‪.‬

THE CONVENTIONAL ARMED FORCE in Europe Treaty (CFE), which went into effect in 1992, has resulted in deep cuts in the number of conventional weapons held by the nations of NATO and the former Warsaw Pact. Described by some as the cornerstone of European security, the CFE Treaty is a rare example of a successful arms control accord that minimizes potential dangers while building confidence. The CFE's accomplishments to date are impressive. All signatory countries have disposed of the weapons stipulated by the Treaty, and all of the other mandates of the CFE had been met by November 1995. In addition, support for the Treaty appears high. Many nations especially praise the way that the CFE helps maintain security by limiting the total force levels in the former Soviet Union to two-thirds the strength of NATO's and by preventing local concentration of forces. Despite these accomplishments, the changes that have shaken Europe during the last decade have created problems for the CFE, bringing to light a number of critical faults and loopholes in the structure of the Treaty. These structural flaws are artifacts of the Treaty's history. The CFE Treaty was negotiated in the final years of the Cold War, and it was designed primarily to prevent confrontation between the superpowers and end the threat of surprise attacks through central Europe. Many of the problems currently facing the Treaty are the direct result of its Cold War origin. While the CFE Treaty accomplished its Cold War goals of stability and equity, it must be revised if it is to deal successfully with the problems of a changing Europe.