MOSCOW, Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin has advocated for restarting the production of intermediate-range missiles following the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty in 2019.
The INF treaty, signed in 1988, previously banned ground-based missiles with ranges between 500-5,500 kilometers (310-3,410 miles), marking a milestone in arms control efforts between the US and Soviet Union.
Putin, speaking at Russia’s national security council, expressed Russia’s need to produce these missiles for national security reasons. He highlighted US actions, including the deployment of similar missile systems in Europe and the Philippines, which Russia views as threatening.
Since the INF treaty’s dissolution, the US has advanced its ground-launched midrange missile capability, including testing the Typhon system with Navy missiles in the Philippines. This development underscores escalating tensions and a shift away from arms control agreements that once governed US-Russia relations.
Amidst the breakdown of bilateral arms control frameworks, concerns have intensified over the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last remaining nuclear arms pact between the US and Russia, set to expire in 2026. The lack of progress on negotiating a successor agreement has raised alarms among advocates for nuclear non-proliferation and global stability.
Putin’s statements reflect heightened geopolitical tensions, exacerbated by conflicts like Ukraine, and underscore Russia’s assertive stance on safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the potential use of nuclear weapons as outlined in its nuclear doctrine.
