RUSSIA WITHDRAWS FROM INF TREATY

Current Context : Recently, Russia officially ended its commitment to the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, citing recent United States military moves such as:

• Repositioning two nuclear submarines near Russian shores
• Deployment of Typhon missile system in the Philippines

ABOUT INF TREATY

• Signed Between: United States and the Soviet Union
• Year of Signing: 1987
• Main Provision:
  • Destroy all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with range between 500–5,500 km
  • Allow on-site verification inspections
• Significance:
  • First treaty to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons
  • Major step toward arms control and nuclear disarmament
• US Withdrawal: Already weakened in 2019 when the United States formally withdrew

MAJOR NUCLEAR ARMS CONTROL TREATIES

• NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty):
  • Entered into force: 1970
  • Purpose: Prevent spread of nuclear weapons and technology
• SORT (Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty):
  • Signed: 2002
  • Limits number of strategic nuclear warheads
• New START Treaty:
  • Signed: 2010
  • US-Russia treaty limiting strategic offensive arms
• TPNW (Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons):
  • Adopted at UN: 2017
  • Prohibits use, possession, and development of nuclear weapons for signatories