INF Treaty Collapse: Russia Joins U.S. in Dropping Key Nuclear Agreement

Russia has announced its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a landmark agreement that halted the production and deployment of short—and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. This decision follows the United States’ earlier exit from the agreement.

In a recent interview with state-run media outlet RIA Novosti, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained the rationale behind the move. “We are assessing the situation based on an analysis of the destabilizing actions of the United States and NATO in the strategic sphere and, accordingly, the evolution of the threats that arise from them,” Lavrov said. He further emphasized that it has become evident that the treaty is no longer viable and must be abandoned. Lavrov also accused the U.S. of dismissing warnings from both Russia and China while deploying intermediate and short-range weapons across various global locations.

The INF Treaty, signed in December 1987 by then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, prohibited developing, testing, and deploying ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (310 and 3417 miles). However, the treaty’s effectiveness began to wane in the 2000s as Russia developed its Iskander missile series and the U.S. pursued a missile defense system in Europe. The agreement’s collapse was solidified when Russia deployed Iskander missiles in the Baltic region in 2017, prompting the U.S. to withdraw from the treaty formally in 2019.

Lavrov also criticized Denmark’s recent decision to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, stating that they’ve repeatedly cautioned against supporting Ukraine’s extremist elements, fearing that it will only escalate the conflict. He added that these actions have left Russia with no choice but to implement military and technical measures to safeguard its national security. He emphasized that all weapons provided by Western nations are considered legitimate targets and are effectively neutralized by their forces.