The EU has once again found itself between a rock and a hard place: while protesting against a new arms race in Europe which could be prompted by the US' pull-out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, it seems the bloc cannot but follow Washington's strategic course even when it contradicts its interests and security.
While Germany Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned against turning Europe into “a platform for an arms race debate” and opposed the deployment of new medium-range missiles on the continent, the EU is seemingly continuing to dance to Washington's tune when it comes to the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
“The deployment of new medium-range missiles would encounter broad opposition in Germany,” the German foreign minister told DPA news agency on 26 December.
In October 2018, US President Donald Trump announced his decision to withdraw from the INF Treaty inked by the US and the USSR 31 years ago under the pretext of Russia's alleged violation of the agreement. The pact stipulates the elimination of nuclear and conventional missiles and their launchers with ranges of 500-1,000 km (310-620 mi) and 1,000-5,500 km (620-3,420 mi).
The Russian-Made 9M729 Missile System
Specifically, the Russian-made 9M729 (NATO codename SS-CX-8) missile system, which, according to the Trump administration, does not comply with the pact, has largely been the bone of contention between Moscow and Washington.
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