Russia is developing a powerful secret missile system that can strike 'Europe's capitals' including LONDON says Dominic Raab as he warns that Vladimir Putin 'threatens European security'
Dominic Raab has blamed Russia for the collapse of a landmark arms control treaty, saying Moscow has been 'secretly developing and deploying a treaty-violating missile system which can target Europe's capitals'.
The Foreign Secretary said the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, which was signed by US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev three decades ago, is down to Russian 'contempt for the rules-based international system'.
Mr Raab said Russia's action 'threatens European security', and pledged the UK's support to Nato's response to the situation.
The US and Russia both walked away from the INF treaty on Friday.
Dominic Raab is in Thailand for the 52nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting, including talks with his Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai (pictured)
Russia and the US have walked away from the 30-year-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, sparking fears of a new arms race. Pictured is a a Russian Iskander-K missile launched during a military exercise at a training ground near St. Petersburg
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has raised fears the collapse of the treaty could 'heighten the threat of a nuclear arms race'.
If the larger New Start treaty is not extended or replaced when it expires in early 2021, there will be no legally binding limits on the world's two largest nuclear arsenals for the first time in nearly half a century.
In a tweet, Mr Raab said: 'Russia has caused the INF Treaty to collapse by secretly developing and deploying a treaty-violating missile system which can target Europe's capitals.
'Their contempt for the rules based international system threatens European security. UK fully supports NATO's response.'
Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 1987, but the US walked away from the deal on Friday
The US has also blamed Russia for the demise of the treaty, saying that for years Moscow has been developing and fielding weapons that violate the treaty and threaten the US and its allies, particularly in Europe.
NATO joined America in blaming Russia for the deal's collapse, but said it has no desire to start a new arms race in Europe.
Moscow accused Washington of cooking up a pretext to abandon a deal it wanted to quit anyway, and called for a moratorium on testing new weapons.
Deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said: 'We have suggested to the US and other NATO members to consider announcing a moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles.'
Demonstrators protesting against the end of the INF treaty outside the US embassy in Berlin yesterday
The Morshansk missile boat (left) and the Passat small missile ship (right) during a military parade on the Neva River in St Petersberg on Russian Navy Day, July 28
Mr Corbyn, however, criticised US President Donald Trump, saying walking away from the treaty is 'destructive' and 'reckless'.
The Labour leader tweeted: 'President Trump walking away from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is yet another destructive decision that makes the world less safe.
'This reckless act will heighten the threat of a nuclear arms race.'
A Nato statement said: 'Russia today remains in violation of the INF Treaty, despite years of U.S. and Allied engagement, including a final opportunity over six months to honour its Treaty obligations.
'As a result, the United States decision to withdraw from the Treaty, a decision fully supported by NATO Allies, is now taking effect.
'Russia bears sole responsibility for the demise of the Treaty.
'We regret that Russia has shown no willingness and taken no demonstrable steps to return to compliance with its international obligations.'
The statement added: 'Allies are firmly committed to the preservation of effective international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.
'Therefore, we will continue to uphold, support, and further strengthen arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation, as a key element of Euro-Atlantic security, taking into account the prevailing security environment.'
Russia is developing a powerful secret missile system that can strike 'Europe's capitals' including LONDON says Dominic Raab as he warns that Vladimir Putin 'threatens European security'
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August 03, 2019
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