Soviet inspectors and their American escorts stand among several dismantled Pershing II missiles. The missiles are being destroyed in accordance with the (INF) Treaty. 1989

Russia also rejected repeated NATO requests to verify its claims that the illegal weapons, the Novator 9M729 intermediate-range cruise missile system, actually complied with INF strictures.

America’s withdrawal will now not allow NATO to properly to monitor Russian missile deployments, and Russia will likely increase its production and deployment of missiles.

NATO’s 28 member states agree that Russia is “in material breach” of its obligations under the treaty.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg explained in a tweet that Moscow’s deployment of the Novator is designed to split the U.S. and Europe,

“Russia is in material breach of the #INFTreaty and must use next 6 months to return to full and verifiable compliance or bear sole responsibility for its demise. #NATO fully supports the US suspension & notification of withdrawal…“

But Putin’s antics are meant to signal Europe that Russia can strike without risking nuclear retaliation from the U.S.

And his bitch, Trump is always doing his bidding, even if you might on the surface agree with the decision.

Not to worry. Why let a little nuclear arms race come between friends…?

U.S. nuclear weapon test MIKE of Operation Ivy, 31 Oct 1952, the first test of a thermonuclear weapon.

The withdrawal of the #US and #Russia from the #INFTreaty is evidence of the shifting international strategic environment. The development of tactical nuclear arsenals threatens greater instability in #Europe and the rest of the world #Putin & #Trump long rejected int. norms pic.twitter.com/hPe7vQtIx9

— Samuel Turrin (@SamuelTurrin) February 3, 2019

(Photos, Wikimedia Commons; via The Washington Examiner)