Infographic | Today in History: Reagan and Gorbachev Sign the INF Treaty
Thirty-five years ago today, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which reduced the size of US and Soviet nuclear weapons stockpiles.
1987: On December 8th, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The treaty was the first in which the United States and Soviet Union agreed to eliminate a weapons class and reduce the number of weapons in their nuclear stockpile.
2014: The United States claimed that Russia was in violation of the INF Treaty.
2019: The Trump administration decided to fully pull out of the agreement.
2022: During Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they have threatened Ukraine and Western Europe with the use of nuclear weapons, declared intentions to increase their nuclear stockpile, and postponed negotiations of the New START Treaty.
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Further Resources听
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- Listen to a recording of Reagan and Gorbachev from the INF Treaty signing, courtesy of the Kennan Institute听audio archive:听/article/reagan-gorbachev-sign-inf-treaty-121987-038
- Read 鈥淔orgotten Parties to the INF鈥 by听Mariana Budjeryn听and Ambassador Steven Steiner for the听Sources and Methods blog, which includes Amb. Steiner鈥檚 firsthand account of INF Treaty negotiations:听/blog-post/forgotten-parties-to-the-inf
- Learn more about Vladimir Putin鈥檚 nuclear posturing during Russia鈥檚 ongoing invasion of Ukraine with Boris Grozovski鈥檚 analysis for the Russia File blog:听/blog-post/vladimir-putins-game-chicken听
- Explore Mikhail Gorbachev's legacy as the final Soviet leader in the Gorbachev Retrospective:听/collection/gorbachev-retrospective
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Kennan Institute
The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the surrounding region though research and exchange. Read more