Putin wants to produce formerly banned missiles
For decades, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty has governed relations between Russia and the USA, prohibiting the deployment of medium-range and short-range missiles with a range of 500 to 5500 kilometers. In 2019, the USA withdrew, while Russia continued to abstain from production. According to President Putin, this might not be the case for much longer.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has encouraged the production of short- and medium-range missiles, which were forbidden under the INF Treaty with the USA up until 2019. "It looks like we need to begin producing these offensive systems," Putin said, referring to missiles with a range of 500 to 5500 kilometers.
After the production of these missiles, Moscow must then "decide, based on the real situation, where we will station them for our security." Putin justified his statement by pointing to the fact that the USA had begun using such weapons during exercises in Denmark. Russia must "respond."
The USA supplied Ukraine with shorter-range missiles to support the country in its conflict with Russia. In May, they lifted the previously valid restrictions for Kiev, allowing them to use these weapons against targets on Russian territory. Moscow warned of a potentially dangerous escalation.
The Treaty was once a milestone
The Treaty on Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF), which bans ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5500 kilometers, was a milestone in arms control. It was signed in 1988 by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US President Ronald Reagan. The United States withdrew from the treaty in 2019, citing Russian violations of the agreement. Moscow declared at the time that it would still refrain from producing new missiles, as long as the USA did not deploy such weapons within range of Russian territory.
In recent years, several arms control agreements reached during the Cold War between the USA and Russia have become obsolete, either because one of the parties withdrew or because the agreements expired. In February 2023, Russia suspended its participation in the New-START Treaty, the last remaining nuclear disarmament agreement between Moscow and Washington.
Vladimir Putin's political stance on the INF Treaty has shifted, as he advocates for the production of short- and medium-range missiles prohibited by the treaty with the USA. This action could potentially lead to a resurgence of arms races and wars and conflicts related to Russia and the USA's missile deployments.
The politics surrounding the INF Treaty have been prevalent in recent years, with the USA's decision to withdraw in 2019 and Moscow's continued abstention from producing new missiles. However, the situation might change, as the USA has supplied Ukraine with shorter-range missiles, further fueling tensions and conflicts between Russia and the USA.
The armor of international agreements has been tested by both Russia and the USA in recent years, with the INF Treaty's dissolution and the suspension of Russia's participation in the New-START Treaty. These actions have created a power vacuum in global politics, potentially leading to future conflicts and wars.
