In its latest annual report on arms control compliance (released in July 2014), the State Department formally accused Russia of having violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. In 2014, the United States first declared Russia in violation of its obligations under the INF Treaty not to produce, possess, or flight-test a GLCM with a range capability between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. The basic allegation is that Russia violated its obligations under the INF Treaty not to possess, produce, or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) with a range of between 500 … On February 1, the United States announced it was suspending its obligations under the 1987 INF Treaty and launched the withdrawal process. Press reports have suggested that this is the case, and top Republican legislators are demanding that it act. Washington has accused Russia of violating the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by testing and deploying a prohibited intermediate-range cruise missile. Russia Deploys Missile, Violating Treaty and Challenging Trump WASHINGTON — Russia has secretly deployed a new cruise missile that American officials say violates a landmark arms control treaty… As a consequence of Russia’s material breach, the United States will suspend its obligations under the Treaty effective in 60 days from December 4 unless Russia returns to full and verifiable compliance. Russia and the United States have long accused each other of violating the INF treaty, and both sides have denied the accusations. How is Russia violating the INF Treaty? The Trump administration announced its suspension of the treaty last week, alleging (as did the Obama administration) that the Russians have violated it by developing a cruise missile that appears to breach the clear limitations on weapons ranges established by the INF. The Russian government responded by also suspending its adherence to the treaty; it has long claimed that United States missile defense installations in Eastern Europe violate the treaty. The United States subsequently identified Russia’s violating weapon as the SSC-8 missile system. The United States is declaring that Russia’s ongoing violation of the INF Treaty constitutes a material breach of the Treaty.
Russia is also in violation of its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, and the Open Skies Treaty. Russia’s violation of the INF Treaty is not its only arms control violation. Is Russia violating the 1987 Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty?