Trump claims US is ready to bolster its nuclear arsenal
EUROPEAN COMMISSION URGED THE US AND RUSSIA TO PURSUE TALKS TO PRESERVE TREATY The US is threatening to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, following Russia’s development of a new medium-range missile in violation of the deal
Until people come to their senses, we will build it up [America’s nuclear stockpile]. This should have been done years ago. It’s a threat to whoever you want. And it includes China. And it includes Russia.”
President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States is ready to build up its nuclear arsenal after announcing it is abandoning a Cold War-era nuclear treaty, as Russia warned the withdrawal could cripple global security. Trump sparked concern globally at the weekend by saying he wanted to jettison the three-decade-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) signed former US president Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader.
In explaining his decision, Trump told reporters in Washington that Russia had “not adhered to the spirit of that agreement or to the agreement itself.”
“Until people come to their senses, we will build it up,” he said, referring to America’s nuclear stockpile. “This should have been done years ago.”
“It’s a threat to whoever you want. And it includes China. And it includes Russia,” the US president continued. “And it includes anybody else who wants to play that game. You can’t do that. You can’t play that game.”
Blow to security
Russia however has warned that abandoning the agreement would be a major blow to global security. Moscow was ready to work with the US to salvage the agreement, the Russian Security Council said after a meeting between its chief Nikolai Patrushev and US National Security Advisor John Bolton. Bolton, who was expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, was visiting Moscow in the wake of Trump’s announcement ■ New missile would enable Russia to launch nuclear strike at NATO countries at very short notice UK SPAIN FRANCE GERMANY ITALY
Novator 9M729 thought to be extended-range version of ground-based system Range:
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Warhead: Saturday that he wants to do away with the pact that bans intermediate-range nuclear and conventional missiles. POLAND Crimea Suspected Iskander missile brigades UKRAINE TURKEY
Donald Trump | US President
9M729 shot from Iskander missile launcher at Kapustin Yar test site
On Monday, Bolton discussed the fate of the treaty with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and spent “nearly five hours” in talks with Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev. Speaking after his meeting with Patrushev, Bolton said the Russians had insisted that Moscow did not violate the treaty. “The position was very firmly announced by Russia that they did not believe that they were breaching the INF treaty,’” Bolton said in an interview with Kommersant, a Russian broadsheet.
Global concerns
Trump’s announcement has raised global concerns, with the European Commission urging the US and Russia to pursue talks to preserve the treaty and China calling on Washington to “think twice.” “The US and the Russian Federation need to remain in a constructive dialogue to preserve this treaty and ensure it is fully and verifiably implemented,” said Maja Kocijancic, the EU spokeswoman for foreign affairs and security policy.