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US pullout from INF Treaty will only benefit its defense industry, says Moscow

The Russian foreign ministry stated that in this case "the life of Americans will inevitably become less secure"

MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Washington’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) will only serve the interest of the US military-industrial complex, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"American people should also think about the rationality of their government’s plans to withdraw from the INF Treaty, which will trigger a new arms race. If it serves someone’s interest, it is the US military-industrial complex since it promises new large orders. But the life of Americans will inevitably become less secure," reads the statement.

INF Treaty

US President Donald Trump publicly announced plans to pull out of the INF Treaty for the first time on October 20.

On December 4, top NATO diplomats urged Russia to urgently return to full and verifiable compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), pointing out that now the ball is in Moscow’s court to preserve the deal.

The first time that the US had accused Russia of violating the INF Treaty was back in July 2014. After that Washington has repeated its allegations several times, with which Moscow does not agree, striking back at Washington with counterclaims.

The INF accord was signed between the Soviet Union and the United States on December 8, 1987 in Washington, DC and took effect on June 1, 1988. The INF Treaty eliminated operational and non-operational medium-range (1,000-5,500 kilometers) and shorter-range (500-1,000 kilometers) ground-launched missiles.