Russian threat to walk out of INF Treaty
Vladimir Putin warned yesterday that Russia was considering withdrawing from intermediate range nuclear forces treaty (INF), unless it was expanded to include other states.
“We need other international participants to assume the same obligations which have been assumed by the Russian Federation and the US,” he said. “If we are unable to attain such a goal … it will be difficult for us to keep within the framework of the treaty in a situation where other countries do develop such weapons systems, and among those are countries in our near vicinity.”
China is the only country which is in the immediate vicinity and has active programme of mordernising its intermediate range nuclear forces that threatens not just Russia, but also other countries around it. Chinese had cited US and Russian threat for such measures. However, the Chinese intention became clear when they continued their missile programmes despite INF treaty.
Other countries such as Iran, Pakistan and North Korea, which are unstable states have varying degrees of proximity to the Russian border.
Israel and India are the only two democratic states having such programmes. India is a long term ally to Russia. Direct Chinese threat and proliferation to Pakistan has made pushed reluctant India to take measures against China. As far as Russia is concerned, the new 5500 km varient Agni missile in progress is not enough to damage Russian terrotory in any significant manner. Hence, Indian Intermediate range missiles are not a concern for Russia.
There have been reports of withdrawal for INF from various Russian sources in the past, but, this is the first time it has been officially commented.
The INF treaty has no time limits, although each side, with consideration of its sovereignty, has the right to leave the treaty if it concludes that it threatens its vital interests.
Russia, as the legal successor of the Soviet Union, is a signatory of the INF Treaty adopted in 1987 by the Soviet Union and the United States. Under the treaty, its signatories pledged not to produce, test or deploy medium-range (1000-5000 km) and short-range (500-1000 km) ballistic and ground-based winged missiles.
By May 1991, all intermediate range missiles were eliminated. It included on the U.S. side the Pershing-2 and on the Soviet side, the SS-20. A total of 2,692 missiles were destroyed out of which 846 on the U.S. side and 1,846 from the Soviet side. The treaty also prohibited the production of such missiles.
The last straw leading to Russian concerns and its threat to withdraw from the INF treaty is the proposal for U.S. missile interceptors in Poland and a sophisticated missile interceptor radar in the Czech Republic. Russia is concerned about the combined capabilities of the U.S. offensive forces and its growing strategic missile defense capabilities in the region. Russia can field medium-range missiles in Europe to counter U.S. missile defense capabilities that is present in Europe.
Another treaty that could come under ithdrawal is the Short-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
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