BRUSSELS – NATO has evidence that Russia has started to deploy a new intermediate-range missile system, the 9M729, in breach of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces or INF Treaty, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference on Oct. 2 in Brussels.
Stoltenberg was speaking ahead of a two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers in the Belgian capital.
“After years of denials, Russia recently acknowledged the existence of a new missile system, called the 9M729,” Stoltenberg said.
“Russia has not provided any credible answers about this new missile. All of the allies agree that the most plausible assessment would be that Russia is in violation of the (INF) Treaty. It is therefore urgent that Russia addresses these concerns in a substantial and transparent manner.”
The alliance remains concerned about Russia’s lack of respect for its international commitments, including the INF Treaty, which banned a whole category of weapons and is a crucial element of international security, Stoltenberg said.
The 1987 INF Treaty banned all ground-launched nuclear and convention missiles with ranges from 500 to 5,500 kilometers. Under the treaty, nearly 2,700 missiles had been eliminated by May 1991.
“Now this treaty is in danger because of Russia’s actions,” Stoltenberg said.
He said the United States had shared with its allies intelligence about the new missile system, a ground-launched cruise missile also known as Novator. The new missile is thought to be based on Russia’s Kalibr missile, a sea-launched cruise missile not covered by the INF treaty.
“According to the U.S., they (Russia) have started to deploy that missile. They’ve shared that intel with us, but I won’t go into details,” Stoltenberg added.
Stoltenberg said he was convinced that “it’s extremely important to make sure Russia comes into compliance with the INF Treaty, because it’s important, a cornerstone of European security”
“I remember myself in the 1970s and 1980s how concerned we were about SS20s, and then we saw NATO’s two track and deployment of Pershing (missiles).
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a press conference in Brussels on Oct. 2. (Iryna Somer)
“The great achievement of 1987 (the INF treaty) abolished all intermediate-range missiles. We expect Russia to continue to deploy, but we ask Russia to provide answers, to be transparent, and come into compliance with the treaty in a transparent way.”
