US gives Russia deadline on Nuclear Treaty

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Tuesday (December 4) that the Trump administration would begin the formal process to scrap the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty within 60 days unless Russia returns to compliance with the treaty’s terms.

“The burden falls on Russia to make the necessary changes,” Mr. Pompeo said. “Only they can save this treaty.”

If Russia does not come back into compliance by the deadline, the administration will begin a formal, six-month process to end the treaty, Mr. Pompeo said. During those months, the United States will still not test or deploy missiles that would abrogate the treaty, he said.

The announcement came at the end of a day of meetings that Mr. Pompeo held at NATO headquarters in Brussels.