This book explains the conventional arms control regime in an era of multipolar competition. It examines the rise and fall of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty) alongside the wider architecture, including the Vienna Document and the Treaty on Open Skies.

Using a global security governance framework centered primarily on the OSCE, and drawing on interviews with diplomats, academics, and policymakers, including former NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller, the book traces the evolution of the European security architecture from its Cold War origins through its post-2014 unraveling and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It situates conventional arms control within the broader crisis of nuclear arms control, amid the collapse of the ABM, INF, and New START treaties.

The book also examines China's expanding military capabilities and limited role in arms control, and the resulting threat perceptions, offering a timely account of European security.

Denis I. Tekes, PhD, is a Norway-based researcher. He holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration and a PhD in International Relations. Trained by the U.S. Navy, he has participated in NATO exercises. He has authored a book on foreign policy decision-making. His research focuses on geopolitics, defense, and European security.