Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty

Source: NDTV

Context: Russia has officially declared its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, stating that Western missile deployments now directly threaten its security.

About Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty:

• What is the INF Treaty? The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was a landmark arms control agreement signed on 8 December 1987 between the United States and the Soviet Union, during the Reagan-Gorbachev

• The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was a landmark arms control agreement signed on 8 December 1987 between the United States and the Soviet Union, during the Reagan-Gorbachev

• Objective: To eliminate an entire category of nuclear and conventional missiles that posed an immediate threat to Europe and reduce the risk of nuclear escalation.

• Key Features of the INF Treaty:

• Scope of Weapons Banned: Banned all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km. Included both nuclear and conventional warheads. First-of-its-Kind Elimination: First arms treaty to eliminate an entire class of weapons, not just limit them. Global Coverage: Treaty applied to missiles deployed globally, not just in Europe. Verification Measures: Introduced on-site inspections, enhancing transparency and trust. Mutual Disarmament: Nearly two-thirds of the dismantled missiles were Soviet, rest were American.

• Scope of Weapons Banned: Banned all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km. Included both nuclear and conventional warheads.

• Banned all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km.

• Included both nuclear and conventional warheads.

• First-of-its-Kind Elimination: First arms treaty to eliminate an entire class of weapons, not just limit them.

• Global Coverage: Treaty applied to missiles deployed globally, not just in Europe.

• Verification Measures: Introduced on-site inspections, enhancing transparency and trust.

• Mutual Disarmament: Nearly two-thirds of the dismantled missiles were Soviet, rest were American.

• Implications of Russia’s Exit:

• Arms Race Risk: Removes constraints on missile development in Europe and Asia. Erosion of Trust: Weakens arms control dialogue between nuclear powers. Last Arms Treaty Left: Only New START Treaty (expires 2026) remains; its future is also uncertain.

• Arms Race Risk: Removes constraints on missile development in Europe and Asia.

• Erosion of Trust: Weakens arms control dialogue between nuclear powers.

• Last Arms Treaty Left: Only New START Treaty (expires 2026) remains; its future is also uncertain.