International security

US says it may restart intermediate nuclear missile development

The US has warned Russia that it will start developing new nuclear missiles unless Moscow returns to compliance with an arms control treaty it is accused of breaching. US officials said Donald Trump wanted to remain in the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty but would not accept Russia continuing to flout the 1987 accord.  “What we have decided to do is take the middle-ground option that they have enjoyed . . . to have their cake and to eat it . . . off the table,” said one US official. Washington has accused the Kremlin of breaching the INF treaty, which bans the possession, production or flight testing of nuclear-armed cruise and land-based nuclear ballistic missiles with a 500km to 5,500km range. General Paul Selva, the vice-chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, in March told Congress that Russia had deployed a new cruise missile that contravened the INF.