Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called for the production of intermediate-range missiles, which were previously banned under a treaty with the United States that has now been scrapped.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, signed by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and President Ronald Reagan in 1988, prohibited ground-based nuclear and conventional missiles with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers (310-3,410 miles) and was considered a significant arms control achievement.
However, the US withdrew from the treaty in 2019, citing Russian violations.
During a meeting of Russia‘s national security council, Putin stated, “We need to start production of these strike systems and then, based on the actual situation, make decisions about where – if necessary to ensure our safety – to place them.”
He noted that while Russia had not produced such missiles since the treaty was scrapped in 2019, the United States has not only been producing these missile systems but has also brought them to Europe for exercises in Denmark and announced their deployment in the Philippines.
Since the treaty’s termination, the US has tested missiles that would have been prohibited under the INF treaty. The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported in April that the US Army’s Pacific commander, Gen Charles Flynn, stated that such a missile would be deployed in the region by the end of the year, marking the first deployment since the treaty’s end.
The scrapping of the INF treaty was a significant event in the deterioration of relations between the US and Russia.
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, is the last remaining arms-control pact between Washington and Moscow. It is set to expire in 2026, and the lack of dialogue on establishing a successor deal has raised concerns among arms control advocates.
Putin’s statement comes amidst heightened tensions between Russia and the West over the conflict in Ukraine and concerns about potential nuclear attacks.
In June, Putin addressed executives from international news organizations regarding Moscow’s use of nuclear weapons, stating, “We have a nuclear doctrine, look what it says. If someone’s actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we consider it possible for us to use all means at our disposal. This should not be taken lightly, superficially.”
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, signed by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and President Ronald Reagan in 1988, prohibited ground-based nuclear and conventional missiles with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers (310-3,410 miles) and was considered a significant arms control achievement.
However, the US withdrew from the treaty in 2019, citing Russian violations.
During a meeting of Russia‘s national security council, Putin stated, “We need to start production of these strike systems and then, based on the actual situation, make decisions about where – if necessary to ensure our safety – to place them.”
He noted that while Russia had not produced such missiles since the treaty was scrapped in 2019, the United States has not only been producing these missile systems but has also brought them to Europe for exercises in Denmark and announced their deployment in the Philippines.
Since the treaty’s termination, the US has tested missiles that would have been prohibited under the INF treaty. The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported in April that the US Army’s Pacific commander, Gen Charles Flynn, stated that such a missile would be deployed in the region by the end of the year, marking the first deployment since the treaty’s end.
The scrapping of the INF treaty was a significant event in the deterioration of relations between the US and Russia.
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, is the last remaining arms-control pact between Washington and Moscow. It is set to expire in 2026, and the lack of dialogue on establishing a successor deal has raised concerns among arms control advocates.
Putin’s statement comes amidst heightened tensions between Russia and the West over the conflict in Ukraine and concerns about potential nuclear attacks.
In June, Putin addressed executives from international news organizations regarding Moscow’s use of nuclear weapons, stating, “We have a nuclear doctrine, look what it says. If someone’s actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we consider it possible for us to use all means at our disposal. This should not be taken lightly, superficially.”
