As One Arms Treaty Falls Apart, Others Look Shakier

The impending collapse of a Cold War-era treaty banning U.S. and Russian intermediate-range missiles is spurring broader concerns about the very future of arms control.

Responding to appeals from its European allies, the Trump administration has given Moscow 60 days to resolve the U.S. allegations that it has punched a hole in the accord by deploying ground-launched cruise missiles.

A central question in the dispute is whether anything can be done to patch up the 1987 accord and, if not, whether a separate treaty limiting long-range nuclear arms, which will lapse in early 2021 unless extended, will be the next domino to fall.

“I think the arms control framework that came into effect in the early ’90s is coming to an end,” said Frank Rose, a former senior State Department official experienced on nuclear issues. He said difficulties in U.S.-Russian relations, political differences at home and the advent of new technology such as cyberwarfare may be hastening the end of traditional arms control.

Read the full article and more in The Wall Street Journal.