US to withdraw from Cold War nuclear missile treaty with Russia
The US confirmed today that it will pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty that came about in the wake of the Cold War, after repeatedly claiming that Russia has violated the agreement.
The pact, signed between the US and Soviet Union in 1987, bans production, testing and deployment of land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500-5,500km.
US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, announced on Friday that the US would be suspending its obligation to comply with the treaty, effective from February 2.
Russia have six months to return to complying with the agreement that was put in place to end the threat of nuclear war between the two countries over 30 years ago, or it will terminate indefinitely.
“Russia has jeopardised the United States security and we can no longer be restricted by the treaty while Russia shamelessly violates it,” Pompeo says.
“If Russia does not return to full and verifiable compliance of the treaty within the six month period by verifiably destroying its INF violating missiles, launchers and associated equipment, the treaty will terminate.”
The US have raised the issue of “Russia's repeated non-compliance” over 30 times in the six years, right up to the highest level of government, but Pompeo says they have “shown no remorse”.
The secretary announced in December that the US would suspend their compliance with the treaty if Russia did not resume abiding by it within 60 days. That time has now passed.
Russia are alleged to have created missiles capable of travelling over 500km, according to the Pentagon, who shared information with NATO allies regarding the Russian's new 9M729 missile system.
Vladmir Putin's government insist that it has a range less than 500km and as such have not changed stance, but the US believe the ground-fired cruise missile could allow Moscow to launch a nuclear attack on the rest of Europe with little or no notice.
Pompeo insisted that the Trump administration was doing everything it could to allow the treaty to continue and was openly trying to enter discussions about how to move forward regarding arms control.
The international affairs Think Tank, Chatham House, has criticised the move for not considering the implications for other NATO allies, saying it is an issue that effects the whole world, not just two countries.
“The inability of Russia and the US to come to an agreement over their Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces is symptomatic of the wider fallout in relations between the two countries," said James Nixey, head of the Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House.
"The fact that both sides are claiming the other has violated the treaty does not mean equivalence. Although there is always a question of interpretation, it is clear that Russia has been the principal party in breach.
"Both moves made so far – allowing treaty violations to go unresponded to, and walking out on the treating altogether – are equally dangerous options and should not be permitted. Proven failure to comply should have penalties that impose a cost. In this case that should mean fresh sanctions on Russia.”