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Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty)
Why is it in news?
- Vladimir Putin threatened to develop nuclear missiles banned under a treaty with the U.S. after Washington gave Moscow a deadline to comply with the key arms control agreement.a
INF Treaty
- Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty concluded in 1987 by Presidents Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.
- INF treaty was a bilateral agreement between Washington and Moscow.
- It hailed as one of the most important arms control agreements between Washington and Moscow.
Implications on India-
- Coin having both sides- Proposed US withdrawal from the three-decade-old disarmament pact with Russia presents both a challenge and opportunity for India.
- Implications on Indian security –
- Especially on the military balance with China,
- Its traditional defence cooperation with Russia and
- The new possibilities for high-technology cooperation with the US, Europe and Japan.
Implications on world-
- Increase in deployment of missiles-
- United States could deploy to Europe or Asia in the near term.
- Russia is in more able position to develop and deploy missiles as it has developed some missiles beforehand which are in violation of INF treaty.
Split in alliance-
- Withdrawal is likely to be controversial with U.S. allies in NATO.
- It may further result in splitting the alliance.
- Many Western European NATO states favor retaining the INF, in conjunction with previous U.S. policy designed to push Moscow back into compliance.
- This raises concerns that divisions within NATO may worsen when the United States officially withdraws from the INF.
Source
The Hindu, New York times