DISINFO: US refused to provide evidence of Russia’s INF Treaty violations
SUMMARY
The Kremlin asked to be presented with facts supporting the accusation that Russia has violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), but the US never produced any proof.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the INF Treaty, which Russia violated by producing and testing the 9M729 missile, prompting the US to withdraw from the agreement. The US has been raising the issue of Russia’s INF Treaty violation since 2014. The US State Department publishes yearly reports on compliance with arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament agreements and commitments. The report from 2014 stated that “the Russian Federation is in violation of its obligations under the INF Treaty not to possess, produce, or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) with a range capability of 500 km to 5,500 km, or to possess or produce launchers of such missiles”. This has been reaffirmed in all subsequent compliance reports. The US presented this information to Russia and has repeatedly attempted to resolve the issue before it decided to withdraw from the Treaty (see a detailed State Department record of its diplomacy efforts here). Similar disinformation cases are presented here and here. Further debunking of the claims made in this article available here.