Russia Threatens to Target U.S. Allies If Trump Exits Treaty
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
(Bloomberg) -- Russia will target countries hosting U.S. missiles if Washington goes ahead with plans to pull out of a landmark Cold War arms treaty, General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov said Wednesday.
“If the INF treaty is destroyed, we won’t leave it without a response,” he said in a presentation to foreign military attaches in Moscow, according to an official transcript. “You as military professionals must understand that the target for Russian retaliation won’t be U.S. territory but the countries where the intermediate-range missiles are deployed.”
His comments came hours after the U.S. said it would pull out of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 60 days if Russia doesn’t stop alleged violations. Moscow says it’s complying with the deal. Gerasimov accused the U.S. of seeking to shift the blame for its demise to Russia.
While the INF treaty restricts the U.S. and Russia, many other countries are producing these missiles and “apparently our American partners consider the situation has changed so much that the U.S. has to have such weapons,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said, according to the Interfax news service. “What’s our response? It’s simple - in that case, we’ll also do it.”
The U.S. has said it has no plans to deploy land-based nuclear missiles in Europe once it pulls out of the treaty. In the past, Russia has threatened to target European countries that hosted U.S. missile defenses.
Earlier Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said it’s deployed laser weapons, one of several systems Putin touted as a new generation of armaments during his annual address in March.
The Peresvet laser, named after a 14th century Orthodox monk who fought in single combat against a Tatar champion at the Battle of Kulikovo, was deployed by the army on Dec. 1, the ministry said in an emailed statement.
Putin in March described the new arms as Russia’s response to the U.S. decision in 2002 to pull out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and develop its global defense shield. While Peresvet’s technical specifications are secret, military experts say it can be used against drones, missiles and aircraft.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told NATO allies on Tuesday that the U.S. is setting a two-month deadline for Russia to return to compliance with the INF treaty before carrying out President Donald Trump’s threat in October to withdraw from the accord. Russia denies breaching the treaty, which bans deployment of ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 kilometers (311 miles) to 5,500 kilometers, and has said it wants to hold talks with the U.S. on preserving the agreement.
“The U.S. has presented no evidence that the Russian side in any way violates or fails to comply with the terms of the agreement,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters in Moscow. The INF treaty is “one of the key pillars of strategic stability” and Russia’s ready to discuss any problems with the accord without “baseless accusations and ultimatums,” she said.
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More instability
The cold war is heating up again.
Not good!
Agreed. We should have been much stronger these past two years rather than courting Russia. This was something past Presidents understood. It's amazing what one can prepare for when history is understood and facts are embraced.
How could we have been stronger with Russia?
Sanctions increased over the Ukraine. Check
Regular US ground forces inserted in Syria heating up that front and putting us in close contact with Russian, Chinese, Iranian, and Syrian forces. Check
60 Russian diplomats expelled from US, and Russian Seattle consulate shut, after UK nerve agent attack. Check
Pulling out of a nuclear missile treaty we claim Russians are violating. Very big check
So, what else do you want done? Maybe try to flip a few more buffer countries away from Russian influence? Or simply carrying through with the end game of going directly against Russian, Iranian, Chinese, and Syrian forces to remove Asad from power? That would sure fire things up some more, and get the DEFCON levels to move closer to 1.
As for past Presidents. Look back to Obama on being "more flexible" with Russia on nuclear talks after his re-election. Of course that is while he was backing a coup in Ukraine; and escalating US presence in Syria arming Kurds and "moderate" Sunni forces to fight ISIS/ISIL- and sometimes the Syrian government.
Our foreign policy is stuck on stupid. We want Russia to be nice; at the same time keep poking the bear and acting shock when it responds.
Oh, and before you claim I am pro Putin; just be careful what you with for. Who replaces Putin, should we make him weak enough, might be a damn site worse. Also, Putin might just decide to take as many people possible with him when he does go.
You're lucky I’m in transit and not in front of my computer. I’m not phone savvy enough that I can search, copy, and paste links of the president you’re obviously so proud of as he’s kissing Putin’s ass and shitting all over America
You think I am proud of Trump?
I didn't vote for either of the unqualified un-convicted criminals the two major parties put forward.
I can back up all of my facts with links- they are all true. You have Trump saying nice things about Putin? Who cares? You think Trump cares about Putin? Really? You think Putin cares about Trump? Even less likely. Trump and Putin only are important so long as they have use to each other. The second they don't they will be dropped.
I know the left loves to call Trump Putin's sleeper, plant, lap dog, lackey, bitch, and whatever else; but by actions he is a terrible Russian ally. Russia must have really botched his training./S
As for "shitting all over America". Name me a politician that doesn't? It just depends on if they have an R or D behind their name as to who thinks is getting shit on.
If you support this President then you are enabling his behavior and therefor by default you are proud of his actions.
If you don't support this President then we are not in disagreement and the point is moot.
So... Vlad caught Donnie chatting up Xi in Argentina and they had a spat?
It appears that Russia realizes the jig is up with this past election's results. They are coming to terms with the fact that they aren't going to get what they hoped for now that this Administration will be watched closely starting in January.
What does this mean "targeting countries"?
Are they planning to attack these countries?
He means new missile defense systems that literally target the countries.
My interpretation is that Russia will continue to try and manipulate economies and governments as they always have but with a broader reach. Rather than pretend they don't know what leaders are talking about or protest when confronted about their bad faith actions, they will just do it in the open now.
Why would Putin hold back on anything now when he's already compromised the current POTUS.
How so?
"with a broader reach"? Russia is on par with the US when it comes to meddling; which means the entire planet. So what is this extra reach going to amount to?
Like it makes a difference? Seriously. Russia will react the same way when caught the US does. Neither confirm, nor deny, anything. Like it will make a difference. Never knew the left put so much importance on political theatre.
Crack down how?
Dude - if you hate this country so much and think we're an equivalent to Russia then move.
Yeah, right. Like those countries aren't already Russian targets.
Another move against Russian interests by an administration that supposedly works for Russia.
Its a double top secret, double feint by Trump ....
With those tiny hands all he can hold is a golf ball.
Tiny hands? and all those women? It's baffling
Trump is a horrible Manchurian candidate for Russia. All those years of careful fully hidden planning and manipulating (so careful they didn't leave a trace); and he turns into a Russian nightmare.
Surprised there is no word out of Russia that Putin didn't kill all of Trump's ultra secret handlers./S
Thats nothing .....
My dad always said the cong put a chip in McCains head and were controlling him.
C'mon Dad, they didn't even have chips back then
No, he responds ...... what do you think gave him brain cancer? .........
The world is a much more dangerous place when the US president is weak...