US Formally Suspends INF Arms Treaty With Russia

The top American diplomat said the United States has formally suspended its obligations under a Cold War-arms treaty with Russia.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday the Trump administration has acted after what he calls "Russia's material breach" of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty and its failure to come into compliance in the two months since Washington gave notice of its intent to withdraw from the pact.

Pompeo said in a statement the U.S. provided Russia with formal notice of the American withdrawal in six months, according to terms of the treaty.

The United States, he said, "has gone to tremendous lengths to preserve" the treaty. But he said Moscow "continues to deny that its noncompliant missile system" violates the accord.

Pompeo said Russia's actions have "jeopardized the United States' supreme interests, and the United States can no longer be restricted by the treaty while Russia openly violates it."