WASHINGTON - Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement on the New York Times report that Russia has deployed potentially nuclear-armed cruise missiles, the mere possession of which would be Russia’s second violation of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty:
“These reports, if true, are disturbing but not surprising. Congress repeatedly urged, and even required in law, the Obama Administration to confront Russia on violations of the INF Treaty. The Obama Administration did very little. As a consequence, the only arms control treaty to ever successfully eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons lies in tatters. Our military has warned publicly that such a violation poses a military risk to the United States, our allies, and our deployed forces. There are clearly lessons here for the Trump Administration about the price of not confronting aggression which puts international security at risk.”
Timeline of Russian Violation of the INF Treaty
2012: HASC Chairman and HPSCI Chairman write to President Obama warning him of a violation of a major arms control treaty by Russia.
2013: Chairmen write again, twice, warning him action must be taken. No action is taken.
2014: Obama Administration finally declares that Russia has violated the INF treaty by illegally flight-testing a prohibited ground-launched cruise missile.
2015: The National Defense Authorization Act for FY16 required President Obama to report to Congress and our Allies on violations of the INF Treaty and develop military options to counter Russia’s new capability. Administration did not comply.
2016: Chairman Thornberry and Chairman Nunes wrote to President Obama again urging him to confront Russia over INF violations based on new information about Russian activities.
2016: The National Defense Authorization Act for FY17 withheld funds for the Executive Office of the President until the Department of Defense develops military options to confront the new Russian capability.