Nicholas Soames MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, “what the timeframe is for Russia to comply with the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty after that country’s latest material breach.”

Mark Field, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs responded stating “The US first declared Russia to be in violation of its INF Treaty obligations in 2014 and has done so many more times in the last five years. NATO Allies have also been expressing shared concerns about Russian non-compliance since 2014. Russia has offered no credible response. On 2 February 2019, the US began the process of withdrawing from the INF Treaty. The Treaty’s formal withdrawal process takes six months and provides Russia with a final opportunity to return to full and verifiable compliance with its Treaty obligations.”

Nicholas Soames, MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, “on what date was the latest material breach of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty by Russia.”

Mark Field, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs responded “On 4 December 2018, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo declared Russia to be in material breach of the INF Treaty. On the same day, NATO Foreign Ministers issued a statement supporting the finding of the US. The US has been expressing concerns about Russia non-compliance since 2013 and in 2014 declared its findings that Russia was in violation of its Treaty obligations.”

Nicholas Soames, MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,“how many ground-based weapons have been destroyed under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.”

Mark Field, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs responded “Only the US and the Soviet Union were parties to the INF Treaty when it came into force. Each was permitted extensive on-site inspections for verification purposes. According to the US Department of State and other non-government sources, a total of 2,692 missiles were eliminated following the Treaty’s entry into force.”