Heiko Maas, the German Foreign Minister, on Friday, January 18, urged Russia to help maintain the stability of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty by not violating it. During his visit to Moscow, Maas asked Russia to destroy the missiles that Washington claims violate the treaty. In response, Sergei Lavrov rejected his German counterpart's assertion of Russia's treaty violations. According to Russian news agencies, Lavrov stated that U.S. officials have informed Moscow that their decision to withdraw from the treaty is final and that they are not prepared for further negotiations on this matter. Washington has stated that if Russia does not stop its violations, it will withdraw from the treaty in February. The decision to exit the treaty was first announced by U.S. President Donald Trump last year. This treaty has been in effect between Moscow and Washington since 1987. The announcement of this decision has drawn reactions from the European Union, including Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, who stated in November that this decision could threaten European security. Heiko Maas emphasized that the stability of this treaty is essential, but given the emergence of new technologies, it is not sufficient. Maas referenced cyber warfare in this context. U.S. presidential advisors have also assessed this treaty as outdated. For instance, John Bolton, the White House National Security Advisor, mentioned Iran and China as reasons for the U.S. decision to withdraw from its nuclear treaty with Russia during a visit to Moscow last autumn. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, also known as INF, was signed by Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan. This treaty prohibits ground-launched cruise and ballistic missiles with ranges from 500 to 5500 kilometers. Under this treaty, 2,700 missiles were destroyed by the former Soviet Union and the United States; most of the destroyed U.S. missiles at that time were in Europe. Russia has warned that if the U.S. withdraws from this treaty and deploys missiles in Europe, Moscow will also take reciprocal action.
Germany Calls on Moscow to Uphold Nuclear Treaty with the U.S.
Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas urged Russia to comply with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty during his visit to Moscow, while Russia denied any violations. The U.S. plans to withdraw from the treaty if Russia does not cease its alleged violations, raising concerns about European security and the future of nuclear arms control.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Germany's Foreign Minister urged Russia to comply with the INF Treaty during a visit to Moscow, while Russia denied any violations. The U.S. plans to withdraw from the treaty if Russia does not cease its alleged violations.
- The INF Treaty has been in effect since 1987.
- The U.S. announced its intention to withdraw from the treaty, citing Russian violations.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The INF Treaty was a landmark arms control agreement between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, eliminating an entire class of nuclear weapons. Its potential dissolution signals a shift in global security dynamics.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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