State Dept. Annual Arms Control Report Indicates Russia Still in Violation of INF

Russia remains in violation of its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty of 1987 to not “possess, produce, or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile with a range capability of 500 km to 5,500 km, or to possess or produce launchers of such missiles,” according to the State Department’s annual arms control compliance report released Friday. The report notes that the U.S. has engaged Russia about INF compliance concerns since 2013. It does not describe any progress in persuading the Russians to acknowledge their alleged violations.  While the report states the U.S. will continue to “pursue resolution” of these concerns, it does not mention specific plans. “The [Obama] Administration believes that it is in the mutual security interests of all the Parties to the INF Treaty that Russia and the other 11 successor states to the Soviet Union remain Parties to the Treaty and comply with their obligations,” the report states. “Moreover, the INF Treaty contributes to the security of our allies and to regional stability in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region.” The State Department initially publically claimed Russia’s alleged violation in its 2014 arms control compliance report.