Putin signs law suspending inf treaty

On January 29, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law suspending Russia's participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty). The treaty, signed in 1987, banned the development, testing, and deployment of ground-launched intermediate-range missiles (with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers).

The INF Treaty was a significant arms control agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union (now Russia) aimed at reducing the risk of nuclear war by limiting the development and deployment of intermediate-range missiles. The treaty was seen as a major achievement in reducing the threat of nuclear war and was a key component of the Cold War-era arms control architecture.

However, in 2019, the United States withdrew from the treaty, citing Russia's alleged violations of the agreement. Russia denied the allegations and accused the United States of violating the treaty as well.

In response to the US withdrawal, Russia announced its intention to suspend its participation in the treaty, and Putin signed the law suspending Russia's participation on January 29, 2021.

The suspension of the INF Treaty has raised concerns about the potential for a new arms race and the destabilization of the global security landscape. The treaty's collapse has also led to increased tensions between Russia and the West, particularly between Russia and the United States.

The implications of the INF Treaty's collapse are far-reaching and complex, and it remains to be seen how the international community will respond to the suspension of the treaty.