The United States formally withdrew from a landmark nuclear missile pact with Russia on Friday.
The US and NATO allies placed the blame on Moscow, stating that they failed to destroy a noncompliant missile system.
“The United States will not remain a party to a treaty that is deliberately violated by Russia,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement about the US withdrawal.
Moscow, on the other hand, blamed the US for the treaty’s collapse. Moscow has told Washington the U.S. decision to quit the pact undermines global security and removes a key pillar of international arms control.
Russia’s foreign ministry is quoted “On 2 August 2019 the Treaty between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America on the elimination of medium- and short-range missiles, signed in Washington on 8 December 1987, was terminated at the initiative of the American side.”
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that the end of the treaty did not imply a renewed global armament race and that Europe would not take part in such a process.
He also called on China and India to be included in a new international treaty.
Further, China’s new ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, said China regrets that the United States is withdrawing from the treaty and expressed doubt about joining the United States and Russia in a nuclear deal.
Many fear that the treaty’s collapse will spark a new arms race in Europe and Asia.
