Trump confirms U.S. to end nuclear arms treaty with Russia
President Donald Trump on Saturday said the United States will pull out of a decades-long nuclear deal signed between Washington and Moscow during the Cold War.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), signed between former President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachevin 1987, bans all land-based cruise missiles with a range between 310 and 3,417 miles.
Before a campaign rally in Nevada, Trump told reporters unless Russia quits violating the INF, the United States will terminate the agreement.
“Russia has violated the agreement. They’ve been violating it for many years and I don’t know why President Obama didn’t negotiate or pull out. We’re not going to let them violate a nuclear agreement and go out and do weapons and we’re not allowed to,” Trump said. “We’re the ones that have stayed in the agreement and we’ve honored the agreement but Russia has not, unfortunately …. so were going to terminate the agreement.”
When asked by a reporter if pulling out of the agreement would lead to the United States developing the weapons, Trump said yes.
“We’ll have to develop those weapons. Unless Russia comes to us and China comes to us and they all come to us and they say let’s really get smart and let’s none of us develop those weapons,” Trump said. “But if Russia’s doing it and if China is doing it and were adhering to the agreement, that’s unacceptable.
“If others get smart and say let’s not develop these horrible nuclear weapons I would be extremely happy with that. But as long as someone is violating that agreement we’re not going to be the only ones to adhere to it,” Trump said.
The New York Times reported on Friday that the Trump administration will tell Russian leaders [this] week about the plan to exit the landmark treaty, partly to enable the United States to counter a Chinese arms buildup in the Pacific.
Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton [was] expected to warn Russian President Vladimir Putin [this] week during a trip to Moscow.
Article Source :https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/daily-news-article/trump-confirms-u-s-to-end-nuclear-arms-treaty-with-russia/
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VOCABULARY WORDS
1.Decade /noun : a period of ten years.
2.Range/noun : the area of variation between upper and lower limits on a particular scale.
3.Unless /conjunction : except if (used to introduce a case in which a statement being made is not true or valid).
4.Adhere /verb : stick fast to (a surface or substance).
5.Unacceptable /adjective : not satisfactory or allowable.
6.Adhere /verb : stick fast to (a surface or substance).
7.Buildup/noun : a gradual accumulation or increase, typically of something negative and typically leading to a problem or crisis.
8.Pacific/adjective : peaceful in character or intent.
QUESTIONS
1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)
2. What is the INF? – When was is signed?
3. For what reason will the U.S. pull out of the treaty?
4. What did President Trump say would cause the U.S. to stay in the treaty?
5. What will the U.S. do regarding weapons development if the treaty is cancelled?
6. What will ending the INF with Russia allow the U.S. to do in regards to Chinese aggression?
7. Some news reports focus on Russia’s reaction “Russia says very dangerous” …
Some observers suggest the Trump administration is trying to get Russia to come into compliance and abide by the treaty.
a) Considering the fact that Russia has violated the treaty for many years, do you think President Trump’s threat to cancel the treaty is too strong, too weak or the right thing to do? Explain your answer.
b) Ask a friend the same question. Discuss your answers.