“Russia Declares Freedom to Deploy Arms and Maximizes Weapon Production, Says Medvedev”

MOSCOW – After denouncing the no longer relevant agreement on conventional armed forces in Europe (CFE Agreement), Russia free to deploy weapon whenever necessary to protect its national interests. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, Tuesday (16/5/2023).

“The State Duma has condemned the CFE Agreement. This document became irrelevant for us in 2007,” Medvedev said, as quoted by TASS.

“Now, no previously suspended international commitment can prevent us from placing our weapons wherever we want to protect our national interests. Including the part of Russia that is in Europe,” he continued.

Medvedev added that Russia will “maximize production of weapons, military and special equipment and means of destruction.”

Medvedev also responded to French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement that Russia suffered a geopolitical defeat and became too dependent on China.

“By the way, salute to Macron. According to his logic, this is also a geopolitical loss for Russia,” he wrote.

The CFE Treaty was signed in 1990 and adapted in 1997. NATO countries have not ratified adapted versions of this document and continue to comply with the provisions of 1990, which contain conventional arms norms that apply to the balance between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. As a result, Russia was forced to declare a moratorium on implementing the treaty’s terms in 2007.

On March 11, 2015, Russia terminated its participation in the meeting of the CFE Treaty Joint Consultative Group meeting, thereby completing the process of suspending its membership in the agreement.

While legally still the signatory. Since then, Russian interests in the Joint Consultative Group have been represented by Belarus.

(esn)