January 2019 - The Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty of 1987 between the US and Russia eliminates all ground-launched mid-range nuclear weapons. This contributed greatly to the end of the Cold War. In recent years, each party has charged the other with some noncompliance of the treaty, which the other denies. Recently, Pres. Putin has called for dialogue and possible renegotiation and extension to include other nations, while on Dec. 4, the US gave Russia a 60-day ultimatum to come into compliance or the US would start the six-month withdrawal process. Meanwhile, the US has been exploring design options for building non-treaty-compliant weapons in the event of leaving the treaty. Russia has threatened to respond in kind, which would start a new destabilizing arms race—this time at the mid-range level—likely drawing in other Asian nuclear states.
Sen. Merkley (D-OR) has sponsored a bill, S.3667, the Prevention of Arms Race Act of 2018. It prohibits US spending to procure or deploy short- or mid-range ground-launched nuclear systems, unless the Sec. of Defense, in consultation with the Sec. of State and the Director of National Intelligence, issues a report that 1) certifies that dialogue has been tried and failed, 2) contains an assessment of need, of alternatives, and of likely ramifications of the collapse of the treaty, and 3) includes a commitment from at least one other nation to deploy these arms on its own soil.
ACTION: Urge your Senators to support and speak out loudly on behalf of S.3667. Also, urge your Representative to introduce the same legislation in the new House. A withdrawal from the INF, and possibly from the New START Treaty, could spell the end of nuclear arms control, possibly forever.
CONTACT: Your Senators and Representative
- Web: Find their names and links to their websites at senate.gov, www.house.gov; send an email or leave a message via ‘Contact’ on his/her website
- Tel: 202 224-3121 (Capitol switchboard-ask for his/her office & leave a message)
- Mail: Senator or Representative (first & last name) S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510
or U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515
Multiply this Message: Use this information to write a letter to the editor about this important & timely issue. This is a powerful way to educate and mobilize others—our job now & in the coming years!