The Pentagon has said on Tuesday the United States has begun its process developing new missiles following President Donald Trump’s decision to halt the Intermediate-range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty with Russia, adding that those missiles are non-nuclear as well as under the treaty.
According to ANI news reports, Pentagon spokesperson Lt Col Michelle Baldanza was quoted by CNN as saying: “We will commence fabrication activities on components to support developmental testing of conventional ground-launched missiles.”
Prior to the Trump administration’s decision, Baldanza has noted that developing of these missiles would have been “inconsistent with our obligation under the treaty”. However, she also asserted that those missiles under work were the non-nuclear.
She further added, “This research and development is designed to be reversible, should Russia return to full and verifiable compliance before we withdraw from the treaty in August 2019.”
The US president has suspended its 1987 INF Treaty, an arms-control pact, saying that the US; plan to withdraw from the pact was due to Russia’s violations to the INF Treaty. However, Russia denies any wrongdoing.
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an order to suspend the INF treaty with the US with some immediate effect.
China has opposed the United States withdrawal from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty deal with Russia and further urged both the two countries – the US and Russia – to “resolve differences through constructive dialogue”.