Russia & the US: The INF Treaty End‑Game
In a dramatic wall‑clock switcheroo, Moscow stepped away from the 1987 Intermediate‑Range Nuclear Forces treaty the same day Washington did. The INF pact, a relic of the Cold War that kept both superpowers from parking short‑range rockets on European soil, has now been officially put on the back burner by both sides.
Putin’s “Mirror Move”
Over the weekend, President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia had tossed the INF treaty aside after the US announced its intended withdrawal. “We’re moving in the opposite direction to your abrupt crack‑in‑the‑treaty move,” he quipped, saving the day for his own side by waving a cease‑fire flag.
What’s Next for Europe?
With the treaty gone, Washington’s intelligence chiefs are already pulling out the “research, development, and design” blueprint for new missile systems. Moscow is not shy either—The Russian military is set to build land‑based launch platforms for two key weapons:
- The Kalibr cruise missile, formerly launched from ships, now getting its own terrestrial home.
- Next‑generation hypersonic missiles that sprint at least five times the speed of sound.
The Inside Work‑Order
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu gave a thumbs‑up for the new projects. He reckoned the cross‑border cannon ball should be ready “by the end of next year” – meaning 2021, ten months away. Shoigu, a tight‑knit ally of President Putin, jabbed at Washington’s kickoff of a 500‑km enemy‑range projectile that’s “outside the treaty limits.”
What’s on the Agenda?
- Build land‑based launch systems for the Kalibr.
- Develop cheaper, faster hypersonic rockets.
- Get the systems to dovetail into existing Russian defense infrastructure.
Are They Really Playing Fair?
Moscow insists it’s the US brash with its treaty breach, alleging Washington invented an “invented pretext” to exit the pact it never really wanted to keep. Washington rebuts, calling the accusations “wrapped in smoke.”
UN Call for a Quick Fix
Robert Wood, the US disarmament ambassador, made a hands‑on plea at a UN‑sponsored conference in Geneva: “The U.S. will reconsider its INF withdrawal if Russia moves back to full and verifiable compliance.” He further emphasized that this is “Russia’s final opportunity to return to compliance.”
Bottom Line
The INF showdown is a two‑fisted sprint that could see more than a few strategic rockets when the last ceasefire curtain falls. And as for Russia’s new land‑launch projects, timing is tight, so stay tuned to see if they really can cross the finish line by 2021—because governments do love to put deadlines on their grand ambitions.
