Russia Withdraws from INF Treaty Commitments

On 5th August 2025, Russia formally declared that it no longer considers itself bound by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a landmark 1987 arms control agreement that banned ground-launched missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres.

Key Points

Official Withdrawal: The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the conditions for the INF Treaty have ceased to exist and confirmed that Moscow will no longer follow its restrictions on missile deployments.
Reason Cited: Russia accused the West of creating a direct threat to its national security, pointing to recent US military actions such as the deployment of a Typhon missile system in the Philippines and missile drills during the Talisman Sabre exercises in Australia.
Impact on Global Stability: Russia claimed these US moves undermine global stability and increase security pressures on Russia.
Historical Context: The INF Treaty had already been weakened after the United States withdrew in 2019, citing Russian violations — an accusation Moscow denied, countering that the US was itself developing prohibited missile systems.