Arms control and its impact on sustainable European security

The international legal framework for arms control fundamentally impacts global security. However, this vital institution is currently dysfunctional, which, in conjunction with the war in Ukraine and the crisis in US-Russia and NATO-Russia relations, is reviving the threat of the European continent becoming a zone of uncontrolled deployment of Russian and US weapons and weapons systems. The collapse of the arms control mechanism has a high potential to spark an uncontrolled arms race across Europe, with potential global spillover. Arms control is a unique idea promoting sustainable international security. It is based on the premise that numerous reductions in weapons and weapons systems by world actors will reduce the likelihood of the outbreak of armed conflict. Arms control is a complex process implemented through international treaties and agreements. They aim to reduce the force potential of a state actor to a level that is only necessary to ensure internal security. This article aims to analyze the impact of the arms control system on sustainable European security and its role within the international order. The basic premise of the arms control process is the principle of equal security, which is based on the sovereign equality of states expressed in the UN Charter. Arms control is always based on the parties' objectives and is therefore not considered an end in itself but is consistently used as part of a process aimed at sustainable international security and building sustainable peace.