Donald Trump could move nuclear missiles to Europe for first time in 30 years this weekend as US accuses Vladimir Putin of breaking Cold War pact
A US government official says treaty obligations could be suspended as soon as February 2
DONALD Trump could move nuclear missiles to Europe for the first time in 30 years this weekend after Washington accused Russia of breaking a Cold War pact.
The US has threatened to pull out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which bans long-range nukes and their deployment in Europe, after accusing Vladimir Putin of breaking the 1987 agreement.
The shock announcement would allow America to develop new intercontinental nuclear missiles and park them on Putin's front doorstep.
And one of Trump's top security aides today threatened to deploy nukes on Sunday after the Kremlin was accused of developing his own long-range rockets on the sly.
Sources have suggested Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to announce the US suspension of the INF treaty today.
The INF treaty bans ground-launched missiles with a range of 310 miles to 3,415 miles and bans either side from stationing land-based missiles in Europe.
Andrea Thompson, the US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, said the US military could start developing new nukes as early as February 2.
She said: “We'll be able to do that (suspend our treaty obligations) on Feb. 2.
“We'll have an announcement made, follow all the steps that need to be taken on the treaty to suspend our obligations with the intent to withdraw.
"We are then also able to conduct the R&D (Research and Development) and work on the systems we haven't been able to use because we've been in compliance with the treaty.
“Come February 2, this weekend, if DoD (the U.S. Department of Defense) chooses to do that, they´ll be able to do that.”
'DESTRUCTIVE'
Thompson added the formal withdrawal process would take six months - but stopping compliance with the treaty would untie the US’ military hands to fire up the nuke factories straight away.
The INF was originally signed to stop the dangerous build-up of warheads in Europe, but fears have been renewed after a break down in talks between the US and Russia in Beijing.
Washington made the threat after accusing Russia of producing a missile with a 1,500-mile range – the Novator 9M729.
Russia claims the missile’s range is just 300 miles - which is within the range allowed by the INF - and has accused the US of using it as a pretext to leave the pact for its own military goals.
Thompson met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov this week to hold last-ditch talks as tensions have continued to escalate between the two nuclear powers.
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Rybabkov said there wasn’t any progress and called the US position “rather tough, ultimatum-like” and “destructive”, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
Russia insists that Washington’s claims are not backed up by evidence and that the treaty would remain by default if the US tries to withdraw.
The INF was signed in 1987 by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
What is the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF)?
The INF treaty bans ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 kilometres (310 miles) to 5,500 kilometres (3,415 miles) and bans either side from stationing land-based missiles in Europe.
It was signed byUS president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to end the build-up or warheads in Europe.
The immediate effect eliminated the US' Pershing II missiles and the Soveiet Union's SS-20s - which was a key event in ending the Cold War.
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