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Foreign Minister Maas on the US announcement that it is withdrawing from the INF Treaty

21.10.2018 - Press release

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas today (21 October) issued the following statement on the US announcement that it is withdrawing from the INF Treaty:

The announcement by the United States that it intends to withdraw from the INF Treaty is regrettable. It poses difficult questions for us and for Europe. For 30 years, the INF Treaty, which prohibits Russia and the United States from possessing and testing ground launch intermediate-range missiles, has been an important pillar of our European security architecture. It is therefore hugely important, particularly for us in Europe.


We have several times called on Russia to answer and clarify the serious allegations that it has violated the INF Treaty. To date, it has not done so. We also ask the United States to consider the possible impact of its decision. Ending the treaty would have many negative consequences, not least for the New START Treaty, which we urgently need if we are to safeguard our achievements in nuclear disarmament beyond 2021.“

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