US to pull out of INF treaty signed with Russia

United States (US) President Donald Trump has announced that US will unilaterally pull out of three-decade-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty signed with Russia during Cold War.

About Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty:

• It was a crucial Cold War-era treaty banning development, testing and possession of short and medium range ground-launched nuclear missiles with a range of 500-5,000 km.
• The treaty was signed in December 1987 between then US President Ronald Reagan and his USSR counterpart Mikhail Gorbachev.
• The treaty banned all nuclear and conventional missiles, as well as their launchers, with ranges of 500-1,000 km or (short-range) and 1,000-5,500 km (intermediate-range).
• This treaty was central to ending arms race between two superpowers during cold war and protected America's NATO allies in Europe from Soviet missile attacks.
• It was designed to provide a measure of some strategic stability on continent of Europe.

What are the reasons of US withdrawal?

• US President Trump has alleged that Russia has violated the treaty and has been violating it for many years.
• This violation comes after Russia's alleged development and deployment of Novator 9M729 missile (also known as SSC-8), that could strike Europe at short notice.
• Accusations of Russia violating this treaty pre-dates Trump presidency and go back to 2008 during President Obama administration.
• Under former President Barack Obama, US raised the issue of Russia testing ground-launched cruise missile with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014.
• But Russia had denied allegations and raised counter-allegations of the US installing missile defence systems in Europe.
• While two countries failed to find a resolution using dispute resolution mechanism in treaty, US continued to remain party to the treaty under pressure from its European allies.

What will be its implications?

• The unilateral withdrawal from this treaty will allow US, new nuclear weapon options in Pacific in its efforts to counter China's growing influence.
• There are also concerns that a unilateral termination of this treaty could mark beginning of a new arms race between US and Russia.

Question:

Q. United States (US) President Donald Trump has announced that US will unilaterally pull out of which three-decade-old treaty signed with Russia during Cold War?
a. Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty
b. Immediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty
c. Intercontinental-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty
d. None of the above