After treaty exit, US to test missiles that were banned
The Pentagon plans to begin flight tests this year of two types of more missiles that have been banned for more than 30 years by a treaty from which both the US and Russia are expected to withdraw in August.
By moving forward with these missile projects, the Pentagon is not excluding the property that the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty could still survive, although it likely will be terminated in August.
The INF treaty was an arms control landmark in the final years of Cold War, but it began unravelling several years ago when Washington accused Russia of developing, testing and, more recently, deploying a cruise missile that US officials say violates the treaty. Russia denies the violation and contends the US accusation is a ploy to destroy the treaty.
Intermediate-range weapons are regarded as particularly destabilizing because of the short time they take to reach a target.
By moving forward with these missile projects, the Pentagon is not excluding the property that the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty could still survive, although it likely will be terminated in August.
The INF treaty was an arms control landmark in the final years of Cold War, but it began unravelling several years ago when Washington accused Russia of developing, testing and, more recently, deploying a cruise missile that US officials say violates the treaty. Russia denies the violation and contends the US accusation is a ploy to destroy the treaty.
Intermediate-range weapons are regarded as particularly destabilizing because of the short time they take to reach a target.
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