The United States is ready to consider the possibility of signing an agreement to replace the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with a greater number of participants, US President Donald Trump has said.
In his State of the Union Address, Trump said that Russia has “repeatedly violated” the terms of the deal. “That is why I announced that the United States is officially withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF Treaty,” he said.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced last week that the United States would withdraw from the treaty. The treaty applies only to the former Cold War archenemies, while China has been free to develop such weapons unrestricted by the accord.
“Perhaps we can negotiate a different agreement, adding China and others. Or perhaps we can’t. In which case we will outspend and out-innovate all others by far,” he went on.