The Eighties in America - Salem Press (2009)

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Intermediate-Range Nuclear

Forces (INF) Treaty

Identification Arms control treaty
between the United States and the
Soviet Union
Date Signed on December 8, 1987;
entered into force on June 1, 1988

The deployment of a number of intermediate-
range missiles during the 1970’s had caused
increasing anxiety for people on both sides of
the Cold War. The Intermediate-Range Nu-
clear Forces (INF) Treaty led to the elimina-
tion of all missiles in this classification. The
agreement represented a level of trust be-
tween the two nations’ governments that
had seemed unthinkable at the beginning of
the decade.

Throughout the Cold War, both the
United States and the Soviet Union
sought to gain an advantage through
a wide range of foreign policy initia-
tives and military operations. While
this jockeying occurred in many loca-
tions around the globe, Europe was
the focus of the superpowers’ rivalry.
The tension between them and its Eu-
ropean focus resulted from the post-
World War II division of the continent
into the communist-controlled East and
the democratic West, which was allied
with the United States. The Eastern
European nations were allied through
a treaty known as the Warsaw Pact,
while the Western allies were members
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organiza-
tion (NATO). While the number of de-
ployed troops had been scaled back

since the immediate postwar period, American and

Soviet forces still faced each other across the lines

drawn when the triumphant Allies partitioned Ger-

many.

For most of this period, both sides were content

with conventional weapons. However, in 1975, the

Soviet Union deployed its portable SS-20 intermedi-

ate-range missile, equipped with nuclear warheads.

An intermediate-range missile is one with a shorter

range than that of long-range intercontinental bal-

listic missiles (ICBMs). As a result, they are posi-

tioned closer to their targets than are ICBMs, and

they can reach those targets in a shorter period of

time, giving an opponent less warning and less op-

The Eighties in America Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty
519

Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union

of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their

Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles

Signed at Washington December 8, 1987

Ratification advised by U.S. Senate May 27, 1988

Instruments of ratification exchanged June 1, 1988

Entered into force June 1, 1988

Proclaimed by U.S. President December 27, 1988

The United States of America and the Union of Soviet

Socialist Republics, hereinafter referred to as the Parties,

Conscious that nuclear war would have devastating con-

sequences for all mankind,

Guided by the objective of strengthening strategic sta-

bility,

Convinced that the measures set forth in this Treaty will

help to reduce the risk of outbreak of war and strengthen

international peace and security, and

Mindful of their obligations under Article VI of the

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

Have agreed as follows:

Article I

In accordance with the provisions of this Treaty which in-

cludes the Memorandum of Understanding and Protocols

which form an integral part thereof, each Party shall elimi-

nate its intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles, not

have such systems thereafter, and carry out the other obliga-

tions set forth in this Treaty.

Preamble and Article I of the Intermediate-Range

Nuclear Forces Treaty