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The Trump administration plans to announce to Russia next week that the US is preparing to withdraw from the Mid-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the New York Times and the Guardian reported on Friday, citing US officials and foreign diplomats.
The White House National Security Advisor, John R. Bolton, is expected to announce the news to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a trip to Moscow. President Trump has decided to withdraw from the 1987 treaty because Russia has been violating it for years and has limited US leeway for the deployment of new weapons.
The White House did not immediately respond for a comment.
Representative Eliot L. Engel of New York, Democratic High Representative to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he was withdrawing from the INF Treaty "before properly consulting our allies and exploring all the diplomatic channels to resolve Russia's violations that endanger American and European security ".
"President Reagan has concluded this treaty to reduce the risk of war in Europe," Engel said. "We owe it to our allies and to the American people to do everything in their power to restore Russia's compliance and preserve peace. A quick withdrawal will simply be a win for Russia and allow our main opponent to expand its arsenal of missiles. "
The United States has been arguing for years that Russia is violating the treaty by deploying tactical nuclear weapons to threaten former Soviet-controlled countries that are now friends with the West.
The treaty prohibits land-based cruise missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. While Russia has denied violating the pact, Pentagon officials are increasingly accusing Moscow of breaking the deal.
At a NATO meeting this month, Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis said a decision on the treaty was imminent.
"I want the opinion of the countries of NATO, what are we doing with a treaty concluded between two countries, one of which still lives – it is us, the United States – and Russia is not, "said Mattis to the press. "So I will explain the situation, which we have already discussed here at NATO. But I want their advice when I return to Washington, DC to participate in these discussions. "
He added, "It's a decision for the president. But I can tell you that both in Capitol Hill and in the State Department there is a lot of concern. And I will come back with the advice of our allies and engage in this discussion to determine the way forward. "
"Russia must return to compliance with the INF Treaty, otherwise the United States will have to react to its indifferent rider to the specific limits of the treaty," said Mattis. "Make no mistake: the current situation with Russia in flagrant violation of this treaty is untenable."
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