Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Agreement

Concerning the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty:

What does the INF Treaty entail?

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was a significant arms control pact signed on December 8, 1987, between the United States and the Soviet Union, during the Reagan-Gorbachev era.

Goal: To eradicate a complete class of nuclear and traditional missiles that represented an urgent danger to Europe and mitigate the chances of nuclear escalation.

Main Characteristics of the INF Treaty:

Range of Prohibited Weapons:

Prohibited all ground-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges from 500 to 5,500 km.

Encompassed both nuclear and conventional warheads.

Pioneering Elimination: The first arms agreement to abolish a whole category of weapons, rather than merely restricting them.

Worldwide Scope: Agreement extends to missiles positioned around the world, not limited to Europe alone.

Verification Steps: Implemented on-site evaluations, improving openness and reliability.

Mutual Disarmament: About two-thirds of the removed missiles were Soviet, while the remainder were American.

Consequences of Russia’s Withdrawal:

Arms Race Threat: Eliminates restrictions on missile advancement in Europe and Asia.

Trust Erosion: Diminishes arms control discussions among nuclear nations.

Only the New START Treaty (set to expire in 2026) is left; its future is also in doubt