Washington Eyes INF Treaty Exit: A Cold War Saga in the Making
After a whirlwind 90‑minute meeting in the Kremlin, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton came out with a clear message: Washington is planning to pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, even though Russia and several European nations are waving red flags. The move was announced during a press conference on Tuesday (Oct 23), following Bolton’s talk with President Vladimir Putin.
Bolton’s Kremlin Chat
- Bolton had a face‑to‑face with the Russian leader that ended with a cool agreement: Putin will sit down with U.S. President Donald Trump in Paris next month. Their first meeting since a July summit in Helsinki.
- Despite the cordial start, no real breakthrough materialized. Trump wants to exit the INF treaty, while Moscow says the division would trigger a risky Cold War‑style arms race.
- Bolton boasted that the “old 1987 pact” is outdated because it doesn’t cover new missile threats from China, Iran, and North Korea.
The INF Treaty: The Outdated Diary?
According to Bolton, the INF treaty “did not address new missile threats,” making it “redundant.” He’s not just talking the talk; he says “the formal notice of withdrawal hasn’t been filed yet, but it will be in the future” – a process that could take a few months.
For the record, the INF treaty was signed in 1987 to eliminate short- and intermediate‑range land‑based nuclear and conventional missiles held by both nations in Europe. Russia warns that if Washington pulls the plug, they’ll respond in kind to restore the balance.
Russian Retorts: “The Threat Is Already Here”
- Bolton fired back against Moscow’s claims, pointing out Russia’s own alleged INF violations, like the illegal testing of a land-based cruise missile in 2008.
- Russia accuses Washington of the same violations, but both sides deny it.
- Bolton complained, “The problem is that there are Russian INF violations in Europe now,” a claim that Moscow denies.
European Goosebumps
Europe was the main beneficiary of the INF treaty, having its Pershing, U.S. cruise missiles, and Soviet SS‑20s removed from the continent. Without the treaty, some European countries fear Washington might deploy intermediate‑range nuclear missiles in Europe again – a scenario that could see Russia retaliate by placing such missiles in its Kaliningrad exclave. It could turn the whole continent into a potential nuclear battlefield.
Poland was one of the few European allies that backed Trump’s move, but senior voices such as former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev have warned of catastrophic consequences if the pact is dismantled.
Bolton’s Bottom Line
“Washington is a long way from deploying these missiles in Europe,” Bolton said, dismissing the fears as overly dramatic. He compared the current concerns to past criticisms of the 2002 anti‑ballistic missile treaty withdrawal, calling them “just hollow warnings.”
In Summary
Washington’s plan to exit the INF treaty could ignite a new Cold War‑style arms race. Moscow and European countries stand in alarm, pointing to existing violations and the risk of re‑introducing intermediate‑range missiles to the region. Whether this move will indeed spark a NATO–Russia arms repetition or simply reshape nuclear strategy remains to be seen.
