Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
5/22/2015
The United States is considering defensive and offensive capabilities if Russia does not return to compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said this week at the Center for International and Strategic Studies. These responses would indicate to Russia that “this is not going to do them any good,” Adm. James Winnefeld said. He emphasized that diplomacy was the preferred current course of action, and added that Secretary of State John Kerry “very recently” spoke with Russian leadership about returning to compliance from the alleged violation. “I think the first solution to this problem is for Russia to stop doing this,” he said. “That’s the most important thing.” Any offensive or defensive capabilities would address the “deny objectives” and “impose costs” pieces of deterrence, he said.
Last summer, the United States released its annual arms control compliance report, which stated that Russia had violated the INF Treaty by developing a ground-launched cruise missile capable of hitting within the range prohibited by the agreement. The treaty bans the development and deployment of conventional and nuclear-armed cruise missiles capable of hitting ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. Russia has denied the allegation.
