Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty (INF)?
An arms control agreement signed in 1987 between the United States and the Soviet Union to eliminate all nuclear and conventional missiles with ranges of 500–5,500 km. Germany and other European Allies were critically important to encouraging both the United States and the USSR to come to the table then.
See also: Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Factsheet INF Treaty: At a Glance - Where is the official text of the INF treaty?
At the U.S. State Department’s website: Treaty Between The United States Of America And The Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics On The Elimination Of Their Intermediate-Range And Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty). - How many diplomatic engagements have there been on INF since 2013?
51.
See also: INF Diplomatic Timeline - Has there been multilateral review of the status of the INF treaty?
Yes, with NATO Allies urging Russia in July 2018 to address concerns about Treaty violations.The Brussels Summit Declaration was the document produced by the participants of the North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels in 2018. Along with affirming NATO’s role, paragraph 46 has to do with INF, and states that “the most plausible assessment would be that Russia is in violation of the Treaty. NATO urges Russia to address these concerns in a substantial and transparent way, and actively engage in a technical dialogue with the United States.”
See: Brussels Summit Declaration (NATO website) - Where can I go for more information on INF?
See the Factsheet from the State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance
Related
February 04, 2019
Busting myths about the INF Treaty
The United States on February 2 suspended its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty because of Russia’s material breach of the treaty and its refusal to dismantle its intermediate-range, ground-launched cruise missile. The illegal Russian weapon clearly violates the treaty’s ban on ground-launched missiles that can travel 500 to 5,500 kilometers.
U.S. officials say that Russia has responded with a barrage of lies and obfuscations but has made no move to come back into compliance with the landmark 1987 treaty.
