Kremlin Has Cheated Long Enough, President Trump Right to Withdraw from INF Treaty

Washington, DC— Friday, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and Strategic Forces Subcommittee, praised the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (“INF”) Treaty with Russia.[1]

Congressman Brooks said, “For decades, the United states has faithfully complied with the INF Treaty only to be cheated by Russia. Despite numerous warnings from the United States and NATO, Russia has repeatedly failed to comply with the terms of the Treaty by building up an arsenal of banned weapons. Russia’s intentional cheating has gone on long enough, and decisive action must be taken.”

Brooks said, “In 2014, the Obama Administration concluded that Russia had violated the INF Treaty by testing a prohibited ground-launched cruise missile.[2] In 2017, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Paul Selva confirmed that Russia had deployed a new type of cruise missile that violates the INF Treaty.[3] The Trump Administration imposed sanctions on Russia for violating the Treaty in December 2017 to no avail.[4] In December 2018, NATO Foreign Ministers publically announced support for the U.S. position, noting that the ‘allies have concluded that Russia has developed and fielded a missile system, the 9M729, which violates the INF Treaty’ and that they ‘strongly support the finding of the United States that Russia is in material breach of its obligations under the INF Treaty.’”[5]

Brooks continued, “While America has constrained ourselves, our foes have built up arsenals of weapons, putting us at a strategic and substantial disadvantage should we be attacked. Russia has proven itself untrustworthy, making America’s only option to keep peace a buildup of weapons comparable to those of Russia’s as a deterrent going forward.”

Brooks concluded, “Perhaps as concerning, according to Admiral Phillip Davidson, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, ‘The INF treaty today unfairly puts the United States at a disadvantage and places our forces at risk because China is not a signatory.’[6]  Unilateral disarmament relative to both Russia and China must stop if the United States is to continue to assure peace through strength.”

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[1] The White House, Statement from the President Regarding the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, February, 1, 2019. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-regarding-intermediate-range-nuclear-forces-inf-treaty/   

[2] New York Times, U.S. Says Russia Tested Cruise Missile, Violating Treaty, July 28, 2014. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/29/world/europe/us-says-russia-tested-cruise-missile-in-violation-of-treaty.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=1%20

[3] Reuters, U.S. general says Russia deploys cruise missile, threatens NATO, March 8, 2017. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-missiles/u-s-general-says-russia-deploys-cruise-missile-threatens-nato-idUSKBN16F23V

[4] Politico, Trump approves new Russia sanctions for violating Cold War arms pact, December 8, 2017. https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/08/trump-russia-sanctions-cold-war-arms-pact-215837

[5] North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO Foreign Ministers agree Russia is in violation of INF Treaty, December 4, 2018. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_161115.htm

[6] United states Senate Armed Services Committee, Advance Policy Questions for Admiral Philip Davidson, USN

Expected Nominee for Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, pg. 10. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Davidson_APQs_04-17-18.pdf