U.S. announces pull out from INF missile treaty with Russia

The U.S. is suspending its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty effective February 2 and will withdraw from the treaty in six months. The U.S. will formally give Russia and the other treaty parties a formal notice that it is withdrawing under Article XV of the Treaty. Article XV mandates a six-month notice period before withdrawal.

What is INF treaty?
The treaty, signed during the Cold War in 1987, bans ground-launched missiles with a range of 500-5,500 km. It was key to ending the arms race between the (then) two super powers and helped protect the U.S.’s NATO allies in Europe from Soviet missile attacks.

Reason cited by US from withdrawing treaty

 Russia has jeopardised the United States’ security interests and US can no longer be restricted by the treaty while Russia shamelessly violates it. US cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty. However, the US left open the possibility that the treaty could be rescued in the six-month withdrawal period. According to US, “If Russia does not return to full and verifiable compliance with the treaty within this six-month period by verifiably destroying its INFviolating missiles, missile launchers and associated equipment, the treaty will terminate.” The Trump and Obama administrations have repeatedly alleged that Russia was violating the treaty by fielding a ground-based cruise missile, the Novator 9M729 (“SSC-8” in NATO terminology) that could strike Europe at a short notice, an allegation that Russia has repeatedly denied. The Russians have raised counter-allegations against the U.S., with regard to launchers for antiballistic missile systems in Europe.