Moscow expressed concern over the attempts of the US to question the expediency of maintaining the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate and Shorter-Range Missiles. The situation with the INF was broadcasted on Sputnik radio by military expert Vladimir Kozin.
Russia has no reason to question the viability of the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.
“The Russian side has no reason to question the viability of this treaty. At the same time, we have a number of claims to the United States in terms of their inadequate fulfillment of its requirements. But we are committed to this agreement and do not want its breakdown or loosening. Therefore, we are very worried by the attempts of the American side under far-fetched pretexts, under the charge of accusing Russia of alleged deviations from the requirements of the treaty, to question the expediency of its preservation. This is another topic that we propose to discuss, “Ryabkov told Kommersant.
The INF Treaty prohibits the parties to have ground-launched ballistic missiles and cruise missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. Russia and the US periodically put forward mutual accusations of violating a treaty signed in 1987.
According to Vladimir Kozin, professor of the Russian Academy of Military Sciences, the INF Treaty prevents the US from realizing their military plans:
The United States is developing medium-range missiles, which are prohibited by this treaty. Let me remind you that medium-range missiles include ballistic and cruise missiles that have a range of one thousand kilometers to five and a half thousand kilometers. It is precisely such a rocket that the Americans are developing – this is the main reason.
The second reason is the creation of a so-called information cover for their activities, which falls under the provision of this treaty. Namely: the Americans have long been testing rockets of smaller, medium and so-called intermediate range when testing the combat capabilities of missile interceptor missile defense systems, where cruise and ballistic missiles are used as real targets.
The third reason is that Americans want such verbal tricks to prevent Russia from creating long-range weapons that do not fall under the parameters of the 1987 agreement.
He noted that, from a legal point of view, there are no obstacles to withdraw from the treaty.
“In each such disarmament treaty there is a special article at the end of the treaty that provides that, in case of emergency circumstances having special significance for the national security of the parties, either party may withdraw from it by notifying the other party in advance. As the Americans withdrew from the treaty on missile defense, referring to the article of this treaty. This is a normal phenomenon, and each state can come out: not only the US, but also Russia. There are no legal obstacles: I decided to go out – go out, but justify. But the Americans will not be able to substantiate their withdrawal from the treaty, if they suddenly think about it, “Vladimir Kozin said.
Source: Sputnik Radio