Pentagon Chief: Russia in Violation of Cold War-era Arms Treaty

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says NATO defense ministers are considering ways to bring Russia into compliance with a key arms control treaty.

The U.S. has maintained that Russia has deployed cruise missiles in violation of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). The accord prohibits the deployment of land-based U.S. and Russian short- and intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

"We have a firm belief now over several years that the Russians have violated the INF and our effort is to bring Russia back into compliance," Mattis told reporters as he met Thursday in Belgium with his NATO counterparts.

Russia has repeatedly denied the claims and accused the United States of violating the treaty. Moscow contends the U.S. Patriot missile systems deployed in Poland and Romania could be customized to launch missiles at Russia.

Mattis, who added that several other NATO nations also had evidence Russia was not in compliance, said he and the other NATO defense ministers would have discussions with Russia to try to resolve the issue.

The treaty was signed in 1987 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the then leader of the Soviet Union.
 [voanews.com]
 9/11/17
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Related:

• US statements that Russia breaks INF Treaty unfounded (Russian FM)
• Russia not to quit from INF Treaty unless being threatened (Sergei Ivanov)
• Russia, United States to discuss INF Treaty (Russian Foreign Ministry)