The 1987 pact, which helps protect the security of the U. S. and its allies in Europe and the Far East, prohibits the United States and Russia from possessing, producing or test-flying a ground-launched cruise missile with a range of 300 to 3,400 miles.
ELKO, Nev. — President Donald Trump said he will pull the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia because Moscow is violating it.
Trump made the announcement Saturday following a campaign stop in Elko, Nevada. National Security Adviser John Bolton was headed Saturday to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia.
Bolton’s first stop was Moscow to meet with senior Russian officials at a time when Moscow-Washington relations remain frosty over the Ukrainian crisis, the war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential race and upcoming U. S. midterm elections.
The U. S. has accused Russia of violating the treaty for years; Russia says the United States is in violation.
The 1987 pact, which helps protect the security of the U. S. and its allies in Europe and the Far East, prohibits the United States and Russia from possessing, producing or test-flying a ground-launched cruise missile with a range of 300 to 3,400 miles.
« We are going to terminate the agreement and then we are going to develop the weapons » unless Russia and China agree to a new deal, Trump said.
Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has said pulling out of the treaty would play into Russia’s hands, undermine U. S. security and betray NATO allies. He said any attempt by the Trump administration to leave the treaty will spark a fight with Congress.
« Without question, Russia is violating the INF treaty. Threatening American withdrawal will not increase our negotiating leverage, it only falls hook, line, and sinker for Putin’s predictable attempts to goad the United States into justifying Russian noncompliance, » Markey said.
