Poland Suspends Membership of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty
At the end of March 2024, the Republic of Poland suspended its participation in the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty. According to a press release from the Polish president’s office the decision was made in light of “the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation aimed at destabilizing peace and security in Europe” Poland is one of many countries bordering Russia, and its close ally Belarus, leading Poland’s government to believe that rearming and expanding its armed forces is the sensible course of action. Especially as Russia’s aggression has seen the war in Ukraine continue into its second year.
On 7 November, 2023, the Russian Federation withdrew from the CFE. In response the NATO council suspended the operation of the CFE Treaty for as long as necessary. Currently, 29 countries are signatories of the Treaty which requires members to share information about their armed forces and allow inspections. Under the CFE the Polish Armed Forces were restrained in terms of acquisition of heavy weaponry such as Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Main Battle Tanks, Attack Helicopters, and other combat vehicles and aircraft. Namely, Poland could have own only:
– 1,630 MBTs
– 2,150 IFVs (both tracked and wheeled)
– 1,610 units of artillery (either conventional or MLRS)
– 460 combat aircraft
– 130 attack helicopters
Under the current modernization plan, Poland intends to obtain over 1,000 MBTs, over 1,600 modern IFVs, and up to 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters, and bolster its airforce with additional F-35A multirole fighter jets. The procurement of reserve vehicles for storage has not been discussed by the Ministry of National Defense yet it is possible that with the future development of military potential the Polish Armed Forces will ask for surplus vehicles for the purposes of training and storage.
The suspension of the CFE Treaty by Poland is a result of the changes in the local strategic situation and the increased threat of Russian aggression. Poland is one of the states indirectly involved with the war in Ukraine with frequent incursion of Russian missiles in its airspace, its role as a key entry point for foreign aid to Ukraine, the influx of war refugees from Ukraine as well as various threats of the Russian figureheads such as former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.
While it is unlikely that Poland will exceed the CFE Treaty numbers anytime soon the suspension of membership of the treaty is a symbolic act and one which in time, as the Polish armed forces grow, may become a practical one too.