On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin made it official, signing into law Russia’s rejection of another law, the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty. The move has been expected for months, particularly since First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov put the kabash on Moscow’s participation in the treaty May 23.

Russia’s lower and upper houses, the Duma and the Federation Council, rubber-stamped the withdrawal in November. The law is set to go into effect December 12.

The Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (cfe) limits the number of combat vehicles and aircraft and heavy artillery deployed in Europe. By 1995, 50,000 combat vehicles were decommissioned thanks to the treaty.

Stratfor reports that the 1990 treaty has become slightly outdated and that Moscow needs a lot more than just Putin’s signature to start rolling out combat vehicles in hordes.

“However, if Putin continues to move forward with the suspension and even withdrawal from cfe, he burns bridges with Europe. The mere idea of massive columns of Russian armor has no small effect in Western and Central European states, and withdrawal from cfe will rile many in Europe. As a result, European and nato security policy will be shifted accordingly” (November 30).

Increasing tension between Russia and Europe and Moscow’s willingness to initiate political conflict reverberate with the history of the 20th century, echoes that Europeans have not yet forgotten.

Stratfor notes one of the most important developments that will come from Russia’s confrontational approach to living next door to Europe: “It remains unclear whether Putin is using the suspension for political gains at home and abroad or whether he really intends to begin ignoring the treaty’s limits. However, a truly bellicose Russia is the one thing that can truly unify Europe …” (ibid.).

Watch for Europe to indeed unite as the Russian bear awakens. Look for a coming Europe-Russia treaty that will temporarily soothe these tensions, a repeat of 1939 and Molotov-Ribbentrop and a collection of similar treaties Russia and Germany, Europe’s own aggressor, have concluded in the past.

Stratfor forecasts Europe unifying around nato. However, with American influence and demonstrable power shriveling, the Trumpet expects a much different outcome—unification around Germany.

Expect stark political shifts in Europe to precede a revolution in the Continent’s military reality, and for it to indeed stand on its own legs militarily.