Policy brief
From crisis to strategy: The OSCE and arms control in a divided Europe
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the OSCE has faced a deep crisis. Russia and Belarus have violated key norms of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, undermining the OSCE’s role in crisis management. Alexander Graef argues that breaking the impasse requires decisive political leadership and multi-level diplomacy. He also argues that growing military activities in Europe highlight the need for military-to-military contacts for managing escalation risks, in which the OSCE can facilitate necessary dialogues and support future monitoring activities as it has in the past.
OSCERussia-WestOSCERussia-West relationsArms ControlConventional Arms ControlDefenceDiplomacyEastern EuropeEmerging technologiesEuropeForeign policyMilitary DoctrineNATONuclear Arms ControlNuclear WeaponsOpen Skies TreatyOSCERisk ReductionRussiaRussia-West RelationsSecurityUkraineOSCE Expert NetworkYGLN