Login With Google
Russia left INF treaty
Why is it in news?
- President Vladimir Putin said Russia was suspending its participation in a key Cold War-era missile treaty in a mirror response to a U.S. move the day before.
More in news
- Moscow and Washington have long accused the other of violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) agreement, which was signed in 1987.
- About INF Treaty:(1) It was brokered by U.S. President Ronald Reagan with last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.(2) The treaty ended a superpower build-up of warheads that had frightened Europeans.(3) It banned ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 km to 5,500 km.(4) The deal addressed Soviet nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles targeting Western capitals, but put no restrictions on other major military actors such as China.
- 60-day deadline:(1) The U.S. in December 2018 gave Moscow a 60-day deadline to dismantle missiles it said breached the agreement.(2) But Moscow has insisted that the disputed 9M729 missile is allowed under the treaty.
- Russia’s response: Russia said it would only deploy intermediate- and short-range missiles in Europe or elsewhere in answer to similar moves from the U.S.
- New START treaty:(1) Some experts concerned that, Washington’s decision to withdraw from the INF could jeopardise the extension of the New START treaty.(2) It caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow, expires in 2021.
Source
The Hindu