US announces withdrawal from INF missile treaty

The US has begun its withdrawal from the INF treaty with Russia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Berlin would continue talking with Moscow about its alleged violations until the withdrawal process was finished.

The White House announced Friday it would withdraw from a landmark Cold War-era missile treaty with Russia effective Saturday, raising the specter of a dangerous and costly arms race in Europe.

The withdrawal "will be completed in 6 months unless Russia comes back into compliance by destroying all of its violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment," it said in a statement.

The US would develop "military response options" and work with its NATO allies "to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct," it added, without elaborating.

Trump suggests new treaty

Russia's Foreign Ministry criticized the US decision as a "strategy to rid itself of international legal obligations." It said it was, however, still prepared to maintain a dialogue with Washington.

Despite the suspension, US President Donald Trump told reporters that he was interested in holding talks to create a new arms control treaty.

"I hope that we're able to get everybody in a big and beautiful room and do a new treaty that would be much better," he said, without elaborating.

NATO backs US

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance "fully" supported the US withdrawal announcement.

"Russia is in material breach of the INF Treaty & must use next 6 months to return to full & verifiable compliance or bear sole responsibility for its demise," he said.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said "Russia is not ready to restore treaty compliance."

"Without the treaty, there will be less security," he said, adding that all sides should avoid any talk of building up their arsenals and instead seek "comprehensive arms control."

What's the INF?

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) bans nuclear-capable missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,420 miles).

The United States and its NATO allies, including Germany, say Russia's 9M729 cruise missile exceeds the 500 kilometer limit.

The United States has also noted that China, which is not party to the INF, has built up a large arsenal of intermediate-range ballistic missiles in recent years.

The former US ambassador to NATO, Ivo Daalder, told DW that was the main reason for the US withdrawal from the INF.

"The treaty does not deal with the new reality of a world in which countries like China are proliferating the deployment of intermediate nuclear and non-nuclear forces," he said.

Germany to talk with Russia

Shortly before the US decision was announced, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her government would continue working with Russia after a US withdrawal.

"It is clear to us that Russia has violated this treaty," she said. "The important thing is to keep the window for dialogue open."

In December, the US said it would withdraw from the INF if Russia failed to prove its compliance by February 2.