Trump confirms U.S. will suspend obligations under INF Treaty with intent to withdraw

President Trump confirmed today the United States would suspend its obligations under the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty due to Russia's alleged violations, allowing the Pentagon to move forward with "military response options."

The United States will begin withdrawing from the treaty tomorrow, Trump said in a statement released by the White House. The withdrawal process will be complete in six months, unless Russia destroys "all of its violating missiles, launchers, and associated equipment," the president continued.

The 1987 treaty bans all land-based cruise missiles with a range between 500 kilometers and 5,500 kilometers. Washington says Moscow currently has three battalions that field the forbidden systems.

"We cannot be the only country in the world unilaterally bound by this treaty, or any other," Trump said. "We will move forward with developing our own military response options and will work with NATO and our other allies and partners to deny Russia any military advantage from its unlawful conduct."

He also claimed NATO allies "fully support us" in withdrawing.

In a statement released by NATO today, the organization said "allies fully support this action" in reference to the U.S. withdrawal.

"Unless Russia honours its INF Treaty obligations through the verifiable destruction of all of its 9M729 systems, thereby returning to full and verifiable compliance before the U.S. withdrawal takes effect in six months, Russia will bear sole responsibility for the end of the Treaty," the statement continues.

Republicans in Congress have largely supported the push to break from the pact.

"The time has come to set the treaty aside and develop alternative avenues toward the security the treaty once provided," Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) said today.

However, congressional Democrats are uneasy with backing the Trump administration's nuclear modernization plan while arms control agreements go by the wayside. Some Democrats have said their support for funding new nuclear weapons and delivery systems is tied to progress on arms control with Russia.

In today's statement, Trump said his administration "remains committed to effective arms control that advances United States, allied, and partner security, is verifiable and enforceable, and includes partners that fulfill their obligations." But he added "all parties" must "faithfully" adhere to the agreements.

"We stand ready to engage with Russia on arms control negotiations that meet these criteria, and, importantly, once that is done, develop, perhaps for the first time ever, an outstanding relationship on economic, trade, political, and military levels," Trump said. "This would be a fantastic thing for Russia and the United States, and would also be great for the world."