Russia warns of a global conflict if US withdraws from Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
On December 21, the UN General Assembly did not approve the Russian resolution aimed at preserving the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). 43 states voted for the adoption of the document, 46 were against, and 78 countries did not take part in the voting.
On Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the withdrawal of the United States from the INF treaty can lead to a new arms race and direct confrontation in different parts of the world.
“The results of voting in the UN General Assembly cannot but cause disappointment… A new blow has been dealt to the global security and stability. Now, with the collapse of the INF treaty, several global regions can plunge into an armed race and even a direct confrontation,” the Ministry stated.
Washington warned Moscow of the possible withdrawal of the United States from the treaty, accusing Russia of violating the provisions of the treaty for several years. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke about this decision on December 4 during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
The US demands that Russia gets rid of the 9M729 missile system or modifies it in accordance with the requirements of the INF treaty signed by the leaders of the United States and the USSR in 1987. Otherwise, the United States will start the procedure of withdrawing from the treaty, said Deputy Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson on December 6.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the decision of the United States to withdraw from the treaty “takes us to a very dangerous line”, increasing the risks of a nuclear conflict and a new arms race. In addition, Putin said that Russia and the United States are not negotiating on the extension of another agreement, the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions, which expires in 2021.