Russia is threatening the US government with consequences if it withdraws from the INF Treaty to abandon nuclear weapons. „If the American side withdraws from the INF treaty, Moscow reserves the right to respond accordingly,“ said Moscow Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, according to the Russian media, without giving specific measures.
Washington’s decision to withdraw from the treaty is another example of the US government’s departure from its international obligations, Sacharova said. It is not about the question of a „debt of Russia“. „It is the US strategy to get rid of its international legal obligations in various areas.“
„Could you provide us with evidence?“
As US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in Washington on Friday, the United States would see itself as of Saturday no longer tied to the 1987 still signed with the Soviet Union contract. Sakharova again asked the US to provide evidence of allegations of breaking the treaty: „Could you provide us with more evidence of what happened besides your tweets? There is not a single proof – no satellite image, no shots. “
At the same time, the spokeswoman rejected the demand to destroy all 9M729 weapon systems. Sakharova said, „Should we just destroy everything like that? I understand that is a strong wish – not only from our friends across the ocean, but also from some pacifists in our country. “
Trump for „new contract“
US President Donald Trump spoke in favor of a new agreement after the termination of the treaty with Russia. „I hope we can all get together in a big and beautiful space,“ he said Friday in Washington. The goal then was „a new contract that would be much better“. This could possibly include other states than just the US and Russia. Previously, Trump had announced the „development of their own military response options“. Whether this means the development of new missile systems remains an open question.
However, according to Pompeo, the US still sets Russia a six-month deadline to return to „full and verifiable compliance“ of the agreement. To do this, Moscow would have to destroy certain rockets and rocket launchers. If Moscow does not comply with this demand, „the contract ends,“ said the US Secretary of State. Pompeo’s message came one day before the expiration of a US-imposed 60-day deadline.
„Duty to respond appropriately“
Pompeo complained that the United States had for years pointed to the Russian’s infidelity and sought clarification. Russia did not move. „It is our duty to respond appropriately.“ According to Pompeo, there has been no movement from the Russian side since the beginning of December. The US government is still „ready“ to negotiate disarmament with Moscow. The six-month period announced by Pompeo complies with the INF Treaty. Consequently, the agreement can not be formally dissolved until the expiry of that period.
„Against the Heart of the Agreement“
The United States and NATO accuse Russia of breaching the INF agreement with its 9M729 cruise missile. The dispute has become the most serious conflict between the US and Russia since the end of the Cold War. Last year Trump threatened to terminate the agreement, which was concluded in 1987, should Moscow not return to the provisions of the treaty by 2 February. Both sides had met in mid-January in Geneva to save the bilateral disarmament agreement. The talks, however, were without result.
In a video leaked on Twitter, American NATO ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison accused Russia in a row of „consistently“ refusing to admit violations of the agreement and continuing to spread disinformation about his cruise missile. According to the diplomat, Russia has developed a missile that is „against the heart of the agreement“, and that is what all the partners in the North Atlantic Alliance agree on.
NATO closed behind USA
Its 29 Allies already backed the US decision to exit INF. A military Alliance statement released Friday said the allies fully supported the move. The Russian 9M729 cruise missile system infringes the INF contract and poses a significant threat to Euro-Atlantic security.
If Russia does not use the remaining six-month notice period to destroy all 9M729 systems, Moscow, according to the NATO statement, has sole responsibility for ending the INF treaty.
It is not clear from the statement adopted by the North Atlantic Council whether NATO itself would be able to build new medium-range systems in Europe in this case. It merely states that NATO will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure the „credibility and effectiveness of defense and deterrence capabilities“. At the same time, the NATO member states make it clear that they continue to work for disarmament and arms control and seek a constructive relationship with Russia. The latter, however, depends on Moscow’s actions.
Moscow: „Extremely irresponsible“
Russia had warned the US immediately before Pompeo’s announcement of an „extremely irresponsible“ withdrawal from the INF disarmament treaty. „We think the contract is necessary. He is in the interest of our security and European security, „said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov in a televised statement.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also accused the United States of having planned the withdrawal for a long time. „The Americans‘ refusal to listen to our arguments and finish negotiations with Russia shows that Washington decided long ago to withdraw from the treaty,“ Peskov said.
Russian General Colonel Viktor Jessin said everything will depend on the reactions of the Americans. „If they station rockets in Europe, then the tensions will increase.“ Russia could easily resume the production of short- and medium-range weapons. „It will not be hard to build ground-based short- and medium-range weapons,“ he told Interfax.
New agreement as the actual US target?
European military circles have recently said that neither Russia nor the US has any great interest in preserving the treaty. It obliges only the two countries to the renouncement of the nuclear medium range weapons. Other emerging military powers, such as China, can further develop it. The aim of the US could therefore be to replace the INF agreement with a new multilateral treaty. Alternatively, they could themselves build new land-based medium-range systems to deter opponents.
Some experts believe that putting an end to the INF treaty would call into question other arms deals, thereby weakening the global system for limiting nuclear weapons. In Europe, meanwhile, it is feared that an end to the INF Treaty would lead to the location of new medium-range missiles, especially in the Cold War.
Mogherini warns of „battlefield“
The INF Treaty has been an important safety guarantee for countries in Europe for around 30 years. Europe benefited the most from the treaty, said EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Friday, on the sidelines of a foreign ministers meeting in the Romanian city of Bucharest. „We do not want the continent to fall back, either as a battleground or as a place of confrontation between the superpowers,“ Mogherini said, adding that the EU wants the INF Treaty to be maintained and „fully enforced“.
„Less security“
Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn warned that an arms debate would „tear and weaken Europe“. He hopes that Europeans will be able to bring Russia and the USA together again for dialogue, „because geographically we are the ones who suffer when renewal is on the agenda“. „Without the INF Treaty, there will be less security,“ said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. According to them, the INF Treaty has already been „effectively suspended“ by the resumption of missile testing by Russia.
Kneissl: „breach of trust on all sides“
Austria was „concerned that if a major disarmament treaty were to be overturned – it is not quite the case – because we are simply interested in disarmament,“ said the minister. Given that the NATO states had sided with the US, Kneissl said that it was not about being on the side of the US, but that the disarmament treaty would be upheld. In order to assess whether the allegations of the US were justified, she lacked the insights, the minister said.
Hungary locates „hypocrisy“
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius also blamed Russia. There is „clear evidence“ that Russia has broken the treaty for several years. Latvia’s Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics also said that Russia does not respect the terms of the treaty. It now needs a global solution.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused the West of „hypocrisy“ towards Russia. „We see western European countries criticizing Russia on the surface, but below the surface their companies are doing tremendous business with Russian companies.“ Szijjarto, for example, cited the Baltic pipeline „Nord Stream“ as an example. In an East-West confrontation Central Europe could only lose. But Hungary does not have much influence, „we can only keep our fingers crossed“.
