Why did the United States suspend participation in the INF Treaty in 2019?

In February 2019, the United States suspended its participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty primarily because it accused Russia of developing a missile that violated the accord's prohibitions.1

In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin argued that U.S. antiballistic missile defense systems deployed in Europe constituted a breach of the treaty, claiming these systems could be utilized for offensive purposes.1

Beyond these specific allegations, many defense analysts viewed the treaty as outdated. The rise of China’s nuclear arsenal rendered the original bilateral framework—designed for the Cold War era—insufficient to address modern geopolitical realities. Because the agreement was not expanded into a multilateral pact, its limitations contributed to concerns regarding a renewed nuclear arms race.1