President Donald Trump said Washington will exit a Cold-War era treaty that eliminated a class of nuclear weapons due to Russian violations, triggering a warning of retaliatory measures from Moscow. Matthew Larotonda reports
Moscow is condemning U.S. President Donald’s Trump plan to exit a Cold War-era nuclear treaty as, quote, “very dangerous.”
And, suggests Russia may be forced to retaliate with a new atomic arms race.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYING:
“Yeah Russia has violated the agreement. They’ve been violating for many years.”
U.S. authorities believe Russia has already started the race.
They say Moscow is developing a ground-launched ballistic missile system in breach of the treaty.
The agreement is called the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and was negotiated by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet counterpart Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987.
It requires the elimination of short-range and intermediate-range nuclear and conventional missiles by both countries.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SAYING:
“Unless Russia comes to us and China comes to us and they all come to us and they say, “let’s really get smart and let’s none of us develop those weapons”, I would be extremely happy with that. But, as long as somebody’s violating that agreement, then we’re not going to be the only one to adhere to it. I think you understand that.”
China never was part of the agreement – and Russia has consistently denied any such violation.
Regardless, Trump says the United States will develop similar weapons unless Russia agrees to a halt on development.
It would be the latest of several major international treaty that the White House has pulled out of since Trump took office, including the Paris climate accords and several trade agreements.
Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, is set to visit Moscow next week.
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