MP: Belarus’ suspension of CFE Treaty with Poland and Czech Republic is retaliatory measure against Prague and Warsaw

Belarus’ deputies have adopted a bill – On Suspension of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe with respect to the Republic of Poland and the Czech Republic – at a meeting of the tenth session of the House of Representatives of the seventh convocation. As noted by a member of the Standing Committee on National Security, Yevgeny Zaitsev, the termination of the agreement aims to ensure Belarus’ national security.

“This agreement terminates the obligations of the Belarusian side in relation to Poland and the Czech Republics. According to the treaty, five categories of conventional weapons are limited: tanks, armoured fighting vehicles, artillery, attack helicopters and combat aircraft. The mechanism of control over these weapons was defined in the form of verification and information exchange. The Belarusian side has been fulfilling its obligations under the document in good faith all the past years. In August 2022, the Czech Republic announced the termination of the treaty with respect to our country, and in March 2023, the Polish Government terminated this document. We are witnessing the processes of militarisation on the territory of Poland, near our state border. The adoption of the draft law on the termination of the treaty is a responsible measure of our country in relation only to the states which leadership has taken such unfriendly measures towards Belarus,” the MP commented.