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U.S. formally withdraws from INF arms treaty
Why is it in news?
- The U.S. and Russia ripped up a Cold War-era missile pact in a move that raised the spectre of an arms race between the global superpowers.
More in news
- INF treaty:(1) The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty limited the use of medium-range missiles, both conventional and nuclear.(2) The INF treaty limits the use of missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometres.
- Formal withdrawal:(1) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Washington’s formal withdrawal in a prepared statement at the ASEAN meet in Bangkok, minutes after Russia pronounced the treaty to be “dead”.(2) Both sides had signalled their intention to pull out of the treaty for months, trading accusations of breaking the terms of the deal.
- NATO alliance: The 29-country transatlantic NATO alliance rallied behind Washington and blamed Russia for the treaty's demise and vowing to respond.
INF treaty details
- Under the INF treaty-(1) U.S and Soviet Union agreed not to develop, produce, possess or deploy any ground-based ballistic and cruise missiles that have a range between 500 and 5,500 km.(2) It exempted the air-launched and sea-based missile systems in the same range.(3) INF Treaty covers all types of ground-launched cruise and ballistic missiles — whether their payload is conventional or nuclear.(4) Moscow and Washington are prohibited from deploying these missiles anywhere in the world, not just in Europe.(5) It was the first agreement of its kind to reduce nuclear missile stocks instead of merely establishing a limit on arsenals.(6) While the treaty required the elimination of missile bodies and launchers, it did not result in the elimination of nuclear warheads.
Source
The Hindu