U.S. to Announce Suspension of Compliance with Nuclear Pact: Officials, According to Reuters

By Steve Holland, Jonathan Landay, and Lesley Wroughton

WASHINGTON – The United States is poised to announce plans to suspend its compliance with a significant nuclear missile treaty with Russia, a reaction to an alleged breach by Moscow, according to U.S. officials on Thursday.

This decision would initiate a six-month countdown that could ultimately lead to a permanent U.S. withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), which prohibits either party from deploying short- and intermediate-range, land-based missiles in Europe. However, the U.S. could opt to remain in the treaty if Russia rectifies its actions within that period.

The U.S. claims that Russia has introduced a new cruise missile that contravenes the agreement. This missile, designated the Novator 9M729, is referred to as SSC-8 by NATO.

Russia, on the other hand, asserts that the missile’s range does not exceed treaty limits and accuses the United States of fabricating excuses to withdraw from an agreement that Washington desires to exit in order to develop new missile systems. Additionally, Russia has dismissed U.S. demands for the destruction of the new missile.

"We’re going to announce suspension," a U.S. official stated, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Another U.S. official indicated that the suspension of compliance would be reversible if Russia returned to compliance during the six-month period. "Then the U.S. would unsuspend," the official said.

The escalating discord marks the most severe U.S.-Russia tensions since the end of the Cold War in 1991. Experts warn that the treaty’s collapse could jeopardize other arms control agreements and weaken the global framework aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

On Thursday, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson engaged in urgent discussions with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in Beijing, just ahead of the expiration of a U.S. 60-day ultimatum for Moscow to comply with the treaty.

After their meeting, Thompson and Ryabkov reported that they had not bridged their differences. Their talks took place during a gathering of the U.N. Security Council’s five permanent members, all of whom are nuclear powers.

European officials are increasingly worried about the potential disintegration of the treaty, fearing that Europe could once again become a stage for nuclear-armed intermediate-range missile deployments by both the U.S. and Russia.

In a recent interview, Thompson expressed her expectation that Washington would halt its compliance with the treaty by this weekend, a step that would empower the U.S. military to begin developing its own longer-range missiles immediately, with the possibility of deployment in Europe.

"We’ll be able to do that (suspend our treaty obligations) on Feb. 2," she noted. "An announcement will be made, and we will follow all necessary procedures related to the treaty with the intent to withdraw."

Once the announcement is made, the formal withdrawal process will unfold over six months. Halting treaty compliance would provide the U.S. military with greater flexibility, Thompson explained.

"We would also be able to conduct research and development on systems that have been restricted under the treaty due to our obligations," she added. "Starting on February 2, if the Department of Defense opts to move forward, they will be able to do so."

Thompson mentioned that the U.S. remains open to further negotiations with Moscow about the treaty.

Ryabkov acknowledged that Moscow would continue to seek a resolution but criticized Washington for disregarding Russian concerns about U.S. missiles and adopting a destructive approach.

"The United States imposed a 60-day timeframe during which we had to comply with their ultimatum," Ryabkov was quoted as saying after discussions with Thompson. "I conclude that the U.S. did not anticipate any decision and that this was merely a tactic to legitimize its domestic decision to withdraw from the INF Treaty."

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, expressed skepticism about the treaty’s future.

"Neither side appears to be willing to demonstrate the necessary flexibility to reach an agreement that would bring Russia back into compliance," he stated. "I think it’s highly unlikely that we will witness any last-minute diplomatic breakthrough."

"At this point, both sides seem more focused on assigning blame than on taking the necessary actions to preserve the treaty," he added.