DISINFO: Termination of the INF treaty reaffirms irresponsible policy of the US
SUMMARY
Termination of the INF treaty reaffirms Washington’s irresponsible policy, which could escalate tensions and destroy the European security system.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative claiming that the US is responsible for the demise of the INF treaty. NATO stated that Russia bears sole responsibility for the demise of the INF Treaty. Russia has violated the Treaty through producing, testing and deploying the 9M729 missile. In July 2014 then-US President Obama officially accused Russia of testing a missile in violation of the INF Treaty, which prohibits the US and Russia from possessing, producing or test-flying ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5500 kilometres. In March 2017, a senior US military official accused Russia of deploying the new missile, which posed a threat to NATO and facilities within the NATO area of responsibility. Russia’s violations were also acknowledged by the NATO Foreign Ministers in a meeting in Brussels on December 4th, 2018. In a joint statement released after the meeting held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 December 2018, NATO Foreign Ministers stated that “Allies have concluded that Russia has developed and fielded a missile system, the 9M729, which violates the INF Treaty and poses significant risks to Euro-Atlantic security.” The US has gathered detailed information on Russia’s flight-testing of the 9M792 missile to distances well over 500 kilometres and has spent almost six years in dialogues with Russia to try to resolve Russia’s non-compliance. However, Russia consistently refused to address US and NATO concerns.