Fears of new arms race as nuclear treaty collapses

US pulls out of 30-year deal with Russia as Raab blames Moscow’s ‘secret missiles’

DOMINIC Raab has blamed Russia for the collapse of a key nuclear treaty, saying it has been ‘secretly developing’ a missile system to target European capitals.

Yesterday the White House formally withdrew from the treaty with Russia, raising fears of a new arms race.

The Foreign Secretary and the US have blamed Moscow for the demise of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which was signed by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987.

Mr Raab wrote on Twitter: ‘Russia has caused the INF Treaty to collapse by secretly developing and deploying a treaty-violating missile system which can target Europe’s capitals.

‘Their contempt for the rulesbased international system threatens European security.’ The treaty was the first to ban an entire class of weapons – groundlaunched cruise missiles with a range of 310 to 3,400 miles.

Last night the Pentagon announced it would now accelerate its development of new weapons.

The US will look at introducing new cruise and ballistic missile systems, said Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesman.

He said: ‘Now that we have withdrawn [from the treaty], the department of defence will pursue the development of these groundlaunched conventional missiles as a response to Russia’s actions.’

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added: ‘Russia is solely responsible for the treaty’s demise.

‘Russia’s non-compliance under the treaty jeopardises US supreme interests as Russia’s development and fielding of a treaty-violating

‘Threatens European security’

missile system represents a direct threat to the US and our allies.’

Moscow said Washington had made a ‘serious mistake’ in pulling out. The Russian foreign ministry added that the US had run a ‘propaganda campaign’ accusing Russia of violating the deal.

In a statement, Nato said: ‘Russia today remains in violation of the INF Treaty, despite years of US and allied engagement, including a final opportunity over six months to honour its treaty obligations.

‘As a result, the US decision to withdraw from the Treaty, a decision fully supported by Nato allies, is now taking effect.’

Yesterday the EU called on the US and Russia to start talks on a new agreement. An EU Commission spokesman said: ‘The EU reaffirms its long-standing commitment to effective treaty-based nuclear arms control and disarmament.

‘We therefore encourage the preservation of the achievements of the INF Treaty. Given the heightened tensions we must be careful not to enter the path of a new arms race that would offset the significant reductions achieved after the end of the Cold War.’

If the larger New Start Treaty – which was signed in 2010 – is not replaced when it expires in early 2021, there will be no legally binding limits on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals for the first time in nearly half a century.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticised US President Donald Trump, saying walking away from the treaty was ‘destructive’.

Last October, when the US first mooted pulling out of the treaty, Mr Gorbachev warned Mr Trump it would endanger life on Earth.